Types of Abuse

Coercive Control

Coercive Control is a overarching strategy used by the perpetrator to remove personhood using a range of physical and non-physical behaviours intended to cause fear and obtain control in intimate partner relationships. It is an attack on autonomy, liberty and eqaulity that often results in entrapment for women.

Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety. (2021). Defining and responding to coercive control: Policy brief (ANROWS Insights,
01/2021). Sydney: ANROWS.

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse happens when one person uses force or threatens to use force against another person. This might include:

slapping, punching, kicking, shaking, pushing, or scratching
spitting or biting
strangling or choking
physically restraining (eg holding against a wall)
detaining against will (eg locking in the house and not allowing to leave)
using weapons
damaging or threatening to damage property
abusing children or pets
sleep or food deprivation

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is any type unwanted or non-consensual sexual activity that is forced on a person physically, or by coercion or intimidation. This might include:

rape
forced sex without protection against pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
forcing someone to perform sexual acts
unwanted touching
using sexually degrading insults
telling suggestive or expletive jokes
unwanted exposure to pornography
withholding sex as punishment
using sex to coerce compliance

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse affects a person’s mental health. It is used by a perpetrator to control the other person by taking away their confidence or independence, lessening their self-esteem. The target may begin to blame themselves for the abuse. Because emotional abuse does not leave scars, it is sometimes difficult to identify. Emotional abuse might include:

name calling or making demeaning comments
threatening self-harm or suicide
threatening harm to children or animals or damage to property
controlling another’s activities or dress
withholding interaction – excluding or failing to speak to the other for extended periods
isolating from family, friends or support networks
blackmail
stalking – including following, constant texting, cyber stalking via social media or location apps

Verbal Abuse

Verbal abuse includes statements intended to humiliate a person including:

name-calling
continuous criticism, swearing and humiliation in public or in private
attacks on someone’s intelligence, body or parenting
yelling

Financial Abuse

Financial abuse is when the perpetrator controls bank accounts or spending money. This might include:

total control of finances and money
restricting access to bank accounts
providing an inadequate allowance (household and personal)
monitoring what a person spends money on
forbidding the person to work
taking the person’s pay and not allowing them to access it
preventing them from getting to work by taking their keys or car
identity theft to secure credit
using the person’s credit card without their permission
refusing to work or contribute to household expenses

Social Abuse

Social Abuse is when the perpetrator prevents the other person from spending time with family and friends, or from participating in social activities causing isolation. This might include:

monitoring the other person’s phone calls and emails
dictating who the other person can talk to or spend time with
continuously criticising the other’s friends and family
not allowing the other person to interact with neighbours
moving the other person away so they cannot visit family or friends
verbally and/or physically abusing them in public or in front of other people

Spiritual Abuse

Spiritual abuse is denying or using spiritual or religious beliefs and practices to control another person. Spiritual abuse might include:

preventing the other person from practicing their religion or to act against their spiritual or religious obligations
misusing spiritual or religious beliefs and practices to justify other types of abuse and violence
forcing the other person to practice spiritual or religious activities
ridiculing or undermining the other person’s understanding of religious practices or beliefs