Coercive Control

Coercive control is a pattern of behaviour directed at gaining and maintaining control over another person (often an intimate partner) and is almost exclusively perpetrated by men against women.

Coercive control is not simply another form of domestic and family violence. It is more useful to think of coercive control as the context within which domestic and family violence occurs. 

Power and control wheel

Power and control is at the center of DFV. The Power and Control wheel (see below) highlights tactics used to gain and maintain power and control over another person.

The inside of the wheel is comprised of more subtle behaviors over time, while the outer ring represents either the presence, or threat (including implied threat), of physical and sexual violence.