Physical
-Any form of physical harm one individual inflicts on another
-Includes choking, shaking, pushing, restraining, burning, biting, scratching, or threat of physical harm
-Throwing items, punching walls, kicking doors, harm towards pets, pulling hair, using weapons
-It can also include the denial of medical attention, the withholding of food, and other types of physical limitations inflicted on the survivor
Sexual
-Any action that impacts a person’s ability to control their sexual activity or the circumstances in which sexual activity occurs
-Sexual coercion, the withholding of sex as a punishment, and becoming violent out of fear that one’s partner is having sex with other people are also forms of sexual abuse
-Sexual abuse can happen within intimate partner relationships, marriages, dating relationships, or it can occur between strangers
-Withholding access to birth control and other contraceptives
Psychological / Emotional
-Non-physical behaviors with the intent to intimidate or manipulate such as threats, insults or isolation
-Using power and control tactics to isolate a survivor from friends and family
-Breaking promises repeatedly
-Threatening, taunting, or gaslighting
-Minimizing the abuse, denying the abuse, and blaming the victim
-Degrading, attacking vulnerabilities, ignoring feelings, regularly threatening to leave, and other psychological and emotional tactics are used to abuse
Verbal
-Saying things meant to be cruel, hurtful, or degrading
-Minimizing accomplishments
-Yelling or cursing at the survivor
Financial / Economic
-Exerting power and control over a partner through their finances
-Controlling all access to finances/financial decisions
-using a survivor’s name to set up credit cards, apply for loans, etc.
-taking money away
-preventing a partner from earning money or spending their own money
Digital
-When the abuser uses technology to bully, harass, stalk, or intimidate a survivor
-Also, closely monitoring digital devices to maintain power and control
-Demanding passwords, checking cell phones, excessive/threatening texts, unwanted sexting
Cultural / Identity
-When the abuser tries to control the survivor’s identiy and/or gender expression
-Using wrong names or wrong pronouns
-When the abuser threatens to our the survivor to their family or prevents them from associating with their culture
Spiritual
-When the abuser misuses religious passages or beliefs to reinforce abuse
-Manipulating the survivor’s religious beliefs, refusing to allow them to attend church or spiritual gatherings
-Claiming the survivor is unwanted or unloved by their higher power to maintain power and control over them
