What is coercive control?
The cross-government definition of domestic violence and abuse is: any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.
Recent research has shown that children and young people are not only impacted negatively by witnessing violence but are harmed by coercive and controlling behaviour even when physical violence is not present.
Definition of controlling and coercive behaviour
The Government defines controlling and coercive behaviour as:
- Controlling behaviour is a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour.
- Coercive behaviour is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.
Coercion and control
Coercion and control destroy the victim’s sense of who they are. This will impact on every aspect of their life including the parenting of any children or young people in their care. It is important to remember this is not the victim’s fault; it is the perpetrator’s abuse that is the cause.
Victims of abuse and their children are at most risk when they try to end the relationship. To maintain control perpetrators may prevent their partners from leaving using a variety of techniques, including making threats of violence, suicide or self-harm.
The Power and Control Wheel
The Power and Control Wheel is a tool used to help explain how abusive partners use a range of tactics which can be identified as coercive and controlling, and physical and sexual abuse are used to reinforce other techniques. People who have experienced domestic abuse will often tell professionals that the impact of the emotional abuse and control was greater than any physical violence. Yet often professionals fail to recognise control and focus on whether physical violence is present.
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Domestic Abuse: online training course
The above information was taken from our Domestic Abuse: Children and Young People written in partnership with SafeLives.
As well as key information on coercive control, the course also covers:
- What is domestic abuse?
- The prevalence of domestic abuse
- Domestic abuse in adolescent relationships
- Domestic abuse in lesbian, gay, bi and trans relationships
- Key risk factors
- Impact of domestic abuse on children and young people – separated by age groups
- Protective factors
- Key practice points
- Support and signposting
The course costs £18.50 to buy online or is included in our online learning service for education or health.
Service level customers should already be able to access the new course when they log on to EduCare’s learning platform.
Domestic Abuse: Children and Young People is the 3rd course that has been added to our education service this year, without changing the cost. It follows new courses on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, Serious Youth Violence and Administration of Medication.
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Domestic Abuse: Children and Young People
Every day children and young people experience domestic abuse at home and can suffer a wide range of severe and long-lasting effects. The purpose of the course is to raise your awareness of children and young people who may be experiencing domestic abuse. Written in partnership with SafeLives, a national charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse.
Read moreDomestic Abuse: Children and Young People
The purpose of this course is to help you understand:
- What domestic abuse is and what forms it can take
- What controlling and coercive behaviour is
- The prevalence of domestic abuse
- They key risk factors to be aware of
- Some of the trigger events that can lead to violence
- The impact domestic violence can have
- What protective factors there are
- What to do when you suspect a child or young person is witnessing and/or experiencing domestic abuse
- What support, help and advice is available
New Domestic Abuse training course written in partnership with SafeLives
Every day children and young people experience domestic abuse at home and can suffer a wide range of severe and long-lasting effects.
Read more