08/31/2026
Recognizing the Signs of Coercive Control.
Sometimes abusive tactics in a relationship are subtle and difficult to identify, but insults, manipulation, and intimidation can all be part of what’s known as coercive control.
“Coercive” is a term that implies the use of threats or force. In a relationship setting, coercive control can refer to any pattern of oppressive, dominating behavior that uses harm to steer your thoughts, feelings, and actions.
While coercive control is often seen through forms of emotional abuse in intimate partner settings, it can also involve the use of physical force.
Both men and women may experience coercive control, though research from 2015 suggests it affects women more frequently. Understanding the signs of coercive control may help you cope.
The red flag of coercive control
Christine Scott-Hudson, a licensed psychotherapist from Santa Barbara, California, suggests being on the lookout for one of coercive control’s major warning signs: the loss of ownership.
“[…] Your money is no longer yours; your time is no longer yours; your space is no longer yours; your body is no longer yours. You begin to have less and less say over your life, your time, and how you spend it,” she indicates.
1. Assault
Physical violence is one of the most extreme versions of coercive control. It uses physical pain to control your behavior and instill obedience.
Physical violence can involve children and pets and may present as:
hitting
choking
slapping
kicking
biting
use of weapons
exposure to dangerous situations (e.g., reckless driving)
https://psychcentral.com/health/coercive-control PsychCentral.com
