the slow narrowing of a life
Coercive control
A pattern of behaviour that, in aggregate, makes a person feel monitored, dependent, isolated, or afraid — even without physical violence.
What it can look like
- ·Monitoring location, texts, spending, or social media.
- ·Decisions about clothes, food, friends, work made by the partner.
- ·Slow isolation from family and old friends.
- ·Financial control — allowances, blocked accounts, hidden assets.
- ·Threats that escalate when the relationship is questioned.
Why "there's no bruise" is not the test
Coercive control is now recognised in many jurisdictions as a form of domestic abuse on its own. Many survivors describe it as more disorienting than physical violence because it's harder to name.
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https://sistersignal.org/resources/coercive-control