What is Coercive Control?

Coercive control is a strategic form of psychological abuse designed to dominate, manipulate, and undermine a person’s autonomy, freedom, and sense of self. Unlike physical violence, coercive control often operates in more subtle, yet pervasive ways, making it harder to identify but equally, if not more, damaging. This type of abuse involves a pattern of behaviour that is intended to strip the victim of their independence and sense of agency, leaving them feeling trapped, isolated, and powerless.

Coercive control is often characterised by several key behaviours, including:

• Isolation: The abuser systematically cuts off the victim’s connections with friends, family, and other social supports. This isolation leaves the victim emotionally dependent on the abuser and limits their ability to seek help or gain outside perspectives on the abusive situation.
• Monitoring and Surveillance: Abusers may control their partner’s movements, communications, and access to information. This could involve tracking their phone or social media use, checking their whereabouts, or even installing surveillance devices in the home. The constant monitoring creates a sense of being watched and further restricts the victim’s freedom.
• Emotional Manipulation: Coercive control often involves gaslighting, where the abuser denies or twists reality to make the victim doubt their perceptions, memories, and judgment. This psychological manipulation can severely damage a victim’s sense of self-worth and make them feel as though they are the cause of the problems in the relationship.
• Control Over Daily Life: Abusers may control various aspects of the victim’s day-to-day existence, from their finances and what they wear, to where they go and who they interact with. This extends beyond traditional domestic violence tactics, creating a broader sense of domination that seeps into every part of the victim’s life.
• Threats and Intimidation: Even if physical violence is not present, the abuser may use threats, intimidation, or implied violence to control their partner. Threats may involve harm to the victim, their children, or even pets, creating a climate of fear that keeps the victim compliant.
• Financial Control: Often, coercive control includes financial abuse, where the abuser limits the victim’s access to money, prevents them from working, or demands total control over household finances. This economic dependence leaves the victim trapped, unable to leave the relationship due to a lack of resources.
• Degradation and Humiliation: Abusers frequently use insults, put-downs, and belittling comments to erode the victim’s confidence. Over time, this can lead to a loss of self-esteem, making it even more difficult for the victim to see a way out of the relationship.

What makes coercive control particularly insidious is that it often unfolds gradually, sometimes beginning with seemingly caring behaviours that later become restrictive. The abuser may start by wanting to spend more time together, for example, but this can evolve into isolating the victim from their social circle. By the time the victim recognises the patterns of control, they may feel emotionally and psychologically trapped.

Impact on Victims

The effects of coercive control can be devastating. Victims often experience anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and feelings of helplessness. Their self-worth is eroded, making it difficult for them to make decisions, trust their instincts, or even consider leaving the relationship. In some cases, coercive control can escalate into physical violence, but even without physical abuse, the emotional and psychological toll can be profound.

Coercive control also impacts the victim’s ability to function independently, as the abuser may have taken control over many aspects of their life. This not only affects their mental health but can also compromise their ability to work, parent, or maintain a sense of identity outside the abusive relationship.

Legal Recognition

In recent years, coercive control has gained more recognition in legal and criminal frameworks. Several countries, including Ireland, the UK and parts of Australia, have introduced laws making coercive control a criminal offense. These laws acknowledge that abuse is not always physical and that psychological control can be just as damaging. While laws addressing coercive control are a significant step forward, enforcement remains challenging due to the often-invisible nature of this type of abuse.

Coercive control is a deeply harmful form of abuse that extends beyond physical violence. It involves a calculated effort to dominate and restrict another person’s autonomy and freedom, often with lasting psychological consequences. Because it can be subtle and gradual, it may take time for victims to recognise they are being controlled, and even longer to seek help. Education, legal reform, and support systems are critical in addressing coercive control and empowering victims to reclaim their independence.