All posts tagged: coercive

People view coercive control in relationships as less harmful when the victim is a man

People view coercive control in relationships as less harmful when the victim is a man

Published by José Betancourt

A recent study published in Sex Roles suggests that the general public often underestimates the dangers of controlling relationship behaviors when the victims are men. The research provides evidence that people tend to take emotional and psychological abuse more seriously when it is directed at women, leaving men and LGBTQ+ individuals at a higher risk of being overlooked. These findings indicate that societal stereotypes continue to shape how people perceive and respond to unhealthy relationship dynamics. Coercive control is an ongoing pattern of behavior where one person tries to dominate, isolate, or intimidate their partner. This concept goes beyond a single argument, instead describing a sustained campaign to restrict a person’s freedom and independence. Most public awareness campaigns and previous scientific studies have focused heavily on women experiencing this type of abuse from men in heterosexual relationships. As a result of this narrow focus, scientists noticed a significant gap in understanding how society views other victims. Men and LGBTQ+ individuals also experience high rates of intimate partner violence, yet they often face unique barriers when …

Coercive Control and Domestic Violence in Wealthy Couples

Coercive Control and Domestic Violence in Wealthy Couples

Published by Jenni Sidey

People sometimes have a hard time believing that domestic abuse matters in wealthy families. And by “people,” I mean judges, juries, neighbors, colleagues, psychotherapists, and everyone else. Some perpetrators are wealthy men who prey upon lower-income girls, boys, and women. And some abusers prey upon their spouses, who effectively lived in a gilded cage. I’m going to discuss men as abusers because men are more common perpetrators of all crimes, including over 90 percent of intimate partner physical and sexual violence, stalking, and homicide. Affluent abusers hide their actions from outsiders, often choosing coercive control tactics without overt physical violence. Coercive control is a strategy that some people use to dominate their intimate partners. It can include intimidation, isolation, monitoring, manipulation, and financial, verbal, physical, and sexual abuse. Not all these elements are present in every case. A wealthy abuser with a reputation to maintain may be more likely to control his wife or girlfriend through intimidation and sexual abuse than blows to the head, although affluent men certainly commit physical and sexual abuse and …

Signs Of Coercive Control Explained By A Legal Expert

Signs Of Coercive Control Explained By A Legal Expert

Published by Sam Flores

There were 49,557 offences of coercive control recorded by the police in England and Wales in the year ending March 2025, according to domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid. This is an increase from 45,310 in the year ending March 2024. Domestic abuse isn’t always physical. “Coercive control creates invisible chains and a sense of fear that pervades all elements of a survivor’s life,” said the charity. “It works to limit their human rights by depriving them of their liberty and reducing their ability for action.” Jessica Wilson, managing director at Eventum Legal, suggests that while awareness of coercive control has risen in the past decade since it became a criminal offence, many people still don’t know the full extent of what it can entail. Signs of coercive control Gaslighting Merriam-Webster defines gaslighting as “psychological manipulation of a person usually over an extended period of time that causes the victim to question the validity of their own thoughts, perception of reality, or memories”. This typically leads to confusion, loss of confidence and self-esteem, said the dictionary, …

Christian charity warned over ‘coercive control’ sermon

Christian charity warned over ‘coercive control’ sermon

Published by Sam Flores

A Christian charity reported to the watchdog by the National Secular Society over misogyny has been warned about legitimising coercive behaviour and reminded of its safeguarding duties. Last year, the NSS raised concerns about Tabor Baptist Church after its chair of trustees claimed wives should “submit” to their husbands and be “good homemakers”. The NSS noted elements of Pastor Andrew Love’s sermon that could legitimise coercive behaviour by a husband over his wife. The Charity Commission has now provided the charity with “formal regulatory advice” which highlights “what constitutes coercive behaviour” and reminds them of “their safeguarding duties towards their beneficiaries”. Tabor Baptist Church was one of many organisations featured in the NSS’s new report exposing the problem of misogyny in religious charities. The report calls for an end to the charitable purpose of “the advancement of religion”, which the NSS says facilitates the promotion of misogynistic religious ideology. ‘Nothing must trump a wife’s loyalty to her husband’ In the sermon, Love claimed: A wife’s “key relationship is her under her husband”. A marriage gets …