Physical abuse, the abuse recognized by our criminal justice system, and known as the “violent incident model” (Stark, 2012) IS what most people think of when they hear “domestic violence”.
Coercive Control is a pattern of behavior that encompasses other abuses that may be overt of covert. This abuse is based on the need for control by the offender and is the underpinning of all abuse, including domestic abuse.
Coercive Control may occur in intimate relationships however we also know that the use of “power over” may occur within systems.
- The Systemic Coercive Control or Institutional Coercive Control, occurs over and over again in the family court system, in churches, cults, governments, and other “systems”.
Coercive Control includes psychological abuse such as manipulation, intimidation, gaslighting & isolation. It also may include financial abuse and legal abuse which is when the court system is complicit in the coercive control. Additionally, coercive control may include sexual abuse.
Perhaps the worst and more heartbreaking tactic of coercive control is the use of children as weapons in multiple ways, including attempts to harm the relationships between adult victims and child victims.
Resources Defining Coercive Control
These covert abuses, now becoming widely recognized as Coercive Control in much of Europe and in Hawaii, California, and Louisiana, are related to the offender’s need for control, are prevalent in most IPV situations, and oftentimes a precursor to physical abuse.
Coercive Control encompasses psychological, emotional, and financial abuse, along with “use of the children” and parental alienation.
"What is Coercive Control?"
Discover the unseen layers of domestic abuse in our latest article, “What is Coercive Control?” While physical violence is well-recognized, there exists a subtle yet deeply harmful form of abuse: coercive control. This article sheds light on the intricate patterns of assault, threats, humiliation, and intimidation used to harm, punish, or frighten victims.
Coercive Control: How Men Entrap Women in Personal Life
Explore the paradigm-shifting insights of Dr. Evan Stark, the author of “Coercive Control: How Men Entrap Women in Personal Life.” Stark challenges the conventional notion of “domestic violence” by revealing it as a web of controlling behaviors akin to terrorism and hostage-taking, supported by meticulous research from court records, interviews, and FBI statistics. He calls for a shift in perspective, urging us to view abuse as a liberty crime rather than just a crime of assault, emphasizing the need for genuine equality for women. This book is a compelling call to reframe the conversation around freedom, safety, and the fundamental principles of personhood.
