Domestic Abuse Information

The Power and Control Wheel

Abuse can come in many forms. It might be physical, emotional, verbal, or sexual. Power and control are at the center of all forms of abuse. The wheel on this page can help you identify some examples of abuse. It was developed from the experiences of women who have been abused.

If you have been physically abused, other forms of control are used as well. Even if you are not hit, you may be threatened with violence. Usually some or all of the kinds of control you see in this chart are part of an abusive pattern.