Verbal Abuse
  • Calling you names
  • Criticizing you
  • Humiliating you publicly
  • Putting you down
  • Embarrassing you
Destruction of Personal Property
  • Destroying personal effects (pictures, letters, clothing, gifts)
  • Ruining belongings
  • Defacing or causing damage to partner's home or auto.
Threats, Anger and Intimidation
  • Using looks, actions, expressions or a loud voice to intimidate partner
  • Smashing or throwing objects
  • Threatening to leave partner or abandoning him/her in a dangerous
    place
  • Threatening physical harm
Jealousy, Isolation, Possessiveness
and Restriction of Freedoms
  • Using jealousy as a sign of love instead of insecurity
  • Controlling what partner does, whom partner sees and talks to, where
    partner goes
  • Refusing to let partner work or join activities/dropping by
    unexpectedly to "watch" activities
  • Accusations of you cheating on partner
Abuse of "Male Privilege"
  • Making all the decisions
  • Going out with the "boys" or "girls," but not allowing you to do so with
    your friends
  • Walking out on an argument and leaving you
  • Doing all the telephoning and expecting you to be there
Sexual Abuse
  • Unwanted or uncomfortable touching
  • Continued sexual advances after being told "no"
  • Forced sex
  • "Playful" use of force during sex
  • Treating you like a sexual object
Physical Abuse
  • Any attempt to hurt or scare you physically
  • Hitting, Biting, Hair Pulling
  • Grabbing, Pushing
  • Shoving, Tripping, Kicking
Psychological and
Emotional Abuse
  • Putting you down and making you feel bad about yourself
  • Mind games or making you feel crazy
  • Telling "secrets" to others
  • Ignoring you or giving you the "silent" treatment
*Adapted from Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, Duluth, MN.
For crime prevention tips,
click on one of these links.
Power & Control
Women's Personal Safety Network
Women's Safety
Information That's NOT
Just for Women Only!
Copyright© 2008 WPSN
Whether you are in a marriage, dating, or living together unmarried, you need to be aware of the signs that
your "partner" is in a Power and Control game with you.  But this is no game!  It is real and it is potentially
extremely dangerous to your emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being.  Below are just some of the
telling signs.  For additional information on Power and Control in relationships as well as The Power &
Control Wheel, click on this link to go to “Domestic Violence Facts," an article by the
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Verbal Abuse
  • Calling you names
  • Criticizing you
  • Humiliating you publicly
  • Putting you down
  • Embarrassing you
Destruction of Personal Property
  • Destroying personal effects (pictures, letters, clothing, gifts)
  • Ruining belongings
  • Defacing or causing damage to partner's home or auto.
Threats, Anger and Intimidation
  • Using looks, actions, expressions or a loud voice to intimidate partner
  • Smashing or throwing objects
  • Threatening to leave partner or abandoning him/her in a dangerous
    place
  • Threatening physical harm
Jealousy, Isolation, Possessiveness
and Restriction of Freedoms
  • Using jealousy as a sign of love instead of insecurity
  • Controlling what partner does, whom partner sees and talks to, where
    partner goes
  • Refusing to let partner work or join activities/dropping by
    unexpectedly to "watch" activities
  • Accusations of you cheating on partner
Abuse of "Male Privilege"
  • Making all the decisions
  • Going out with the "boys" but not allowing you to do so with your
    friends
  • Walking out on an argument and leaving you
  • Doing all the telephoning and expecting you to be there
Sexual Abuse
  • Unwanted or uncomfortable touching
  • Continued sexual advances after being told "no"
  • Forced sex
  • "Playful" use of force during sex
  • Treating you like a sexual object
Physical Abuse
  • Any attempt to hurt or scare you physically
  • Hitting, Biting, Hair Pulling
  • Grabbing, Pushing
  • Shoving, Tripping, Kicking
Psychological and
Emotional Abuse
  • Putting you down and making you feel bad about yourself
  • Playing mind games or making you feel crazy
  • Telling "secrets" to others
  • Ignoring you or giving you the "silent" treatment
*Adapted from Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, Duluth, MN.
For crime prevention tips,
click on one of these links.
Power & Control
Women's Personal Safety Network
Women's Safety
Information That's NOT
Just for Women Only!
Copyright© 2008 WPSN
*Adapted from Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, Duluth, MN