Coercive Control: An Endemic Tactic of Family Violence

Coercive control is a repeated pattern of abusive, manipulating and intimidating behaviours and almost always underpins the dynamics of family and domestic violence. Perpetrators use coercive and controlling tactics and behaviours most often within intimate partner relationships, with current and former partners and within broader family relationships, including against children and elders.

Coercive control is a largely gendered issue and while people of all genders can perpetrate or experience coercive control, it is overwhelmingly perpetrated by cisgender men against cisgender and transgender women.

Coercive control is a range of deliberate tactics, with perpetrators using subtle, underhanded and manipulative behaviours that directly target victim survivors. These tactics are used in a methodical and deliberate way, and include physical and non-physical behaviours.

These tactics and behaviours may only be recognised and visible to perpetrators and victim survivors: they are often invisible or unnoticed by others. These behaviours intimidate, humiliate and coerce, causing fear, hurt, isolation and limits to victim survivors’ freedom of choice.

Examples of coercive control include gestures, looks, jealousy, social isolation, put downs, threats to harm, financial, legal and systems abuse. You may see or notice subtle changes over time from the impacts of coercive control, with victim survivors having reduced confidence, changing their behaviour, limiting and restricting their movements and activities or isolating themselves from family and friends.

Impacts

Coercive control is serious. It can cause immediate and long-term harm. The impacts often get worse over time and continue after the relationship has ended. Separation and relationship breakdown can be the most dangerous time for victim survivors. Coercive control can impact every part of a person’s life including their mental and physical health, relationships, employment and financial security. The abuse can also impact on a person’s sense of safety, their independence, and self-esteem – making them feel trapped, powerless and alone.

We know coercive control is a defining feature of family violence and is present in most, if not all cases where family violence occurs. For example, of the 2,247 victim survivor risk and safety assessments that CNV conducted between July to December 2024, controlling behaviours were present in 83 per cent of cases. This behaviour, along with intersectional risk factors of perpetrator alcohol and drug misuse, stalking and jealousy are key evidence-based lethality and risk indicators. This is not an isolated issue. Extreme risk was identified in 43 per cent of the victim survivors’ assessments: with 10 or more evidence-based risk factors identified.

Supports

Seeking support and/or leaving an abusive relationship can be difficult and victim survivors may feel like it is impossible to leave due to the risks they are facing. But help is available.

CNV provides specialist integrated support to both victim survivors and perpetrators of family violence.

We assess the safety and risk of victim survivors and perpetrators, to provide responses that uphold safety and accountability and mobilise systems. We work collaboratively to address the needs of our clients.

If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, contact us for advice and support. Alternatively, if you are supporting someone who is experiencing family violence you can refer them directly to our service.