Methods of
Domestic Violence

Using Isolation

• Controlling what she does, who she sees and talks to, what she reads, and where she goes.
• Limiting her outside involvement.
• Using jealousy to justify actions.

Using Intimidation

• Making her afraid by using looks, actions, gestures
• Smashing things
• Destroying her property
• Abusing pets
• Displaying weapons

Using Emotional Abuse

• Putting her down - making her feel bad about herself
• Calling her names - making her think she's crazy
• Playing mind games - humiliating her
• Making her feel guilty

Using Male Privilege

• Treating her like a servant
• Making all the big decisions
• Acting like the "master of the castle"
• Being the one to define men's and women's role

Using Economic Abuse

• Preventing her from getting or keeping a job
• Making her ask for money
• Giving her an allowance - taking her money
• Not letting her know about or have access to family income

Using Denial & Blame

• Making light of the abuse and not taking her concerns about it seriously
• Saying the abuse didn't happen
• Shifting responsibility for abusive behavior
• Saying she caused it

Using Children

• Making her feel guilty about the children
• Using the children to relay messages
• Using visitation to harass her
• Threatening to take the children away

Using Coercion & Threats

• Making and/or carrying out threats to do something to hurt her
• Threatening to leave her, to commit suicide, to report her to welfare
• Making her drop charges
• Making her do illegal things