Coercive control is a pattern of abusive behavior used to dominate and control another person, often within intimate or family relationships. It involves acts such as assault, threats, humiliation, intimidation, and other forms of abuse designed to harm, punish, or frighten the victim. Unlike physical abuse alone, coercive control focuses on controlling the victim's everyday life, isolating them from support, exploiting them, depriving them of independence, and regulating their behavior

. Key characteristics of coercive control include:

• It is ongoing and repeated, not a single incident

• It can involve physical violence but often includes non-physical behaviors like emotional manipulation, gaslighting, monitoring, and financial control

• The abusive person tailors the controlling behaviors to the victim’s vulnerabilities and circumstances

• It can isolate a person from friends, family, and support systems

• It can control what someone wears, eats, who they see, and how they spend money

• It often causes victims to feel scared, trapped, and dependent, with their self-esteem and confidence eroded over time

• It is recognized as a criminal offense in several jurisdictions, including under the Serious Crime Act 2015 in the UK and laws in Australian states

Coercive control can happen in any type of relationship-casual, serious, or after separation-and can also occur within families or caregiving situations

. It is mostly perpetrated by men against women but can affect anyone

. Because coercive control is subtle and may escalate slowly, it can be difficult for victims and others to recognize. Victims may not realize they are being abused, especially since non-physical abuse can be misunderstood or minimized

. Support is available for those experiencing coercive control through various helplines and organizations specializing in domestic abuse and family violence

. In summary, coercive control is a serious form of domestic abuse characterized by a pattern of behaviors aimed at controlling, isolating, and frightening a person to undermine their freedom and autonomy