What's the Power And Control Wheel?
Safe Alliance values and seeks to comprehend each individual's lived experience. A visual tool used in our organization to further awareness for survivors and staff is the Power and Control Wheel. The Power and Control Wheel was created in 1984 by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project in Minnesota. The purpose was to find a way to describe the different forms of abuse endured by survivors. The different tactics included within the inside of the wheel were compiled from repeated documented abusive behaviors to generate an accumulation of more universal experiences. The name, "Power and Control," is used to emphasize that the actions that are included within the wheel were used as ways to establish dominance by the individual's partner. Sometimes individuals are unaware or overlook different forms of violence.
On the outside of the wheel is physical and sexual violence, while the inside includes 8 different tactics of abuse. In this blog we will discuss and explain the tactics that are included within the wheel. The tactics inside the wheel are:
- Using economic abuse
- Using coercion and threats
- Using intimidation
- Using emotional abuse
- Using isolation
- Minimizing, denying, and blaming
- Using children
- Using male privilege
1.Using economic abuse
One way an individual can hold power over you is through using economic abuse. This can be shown by prohibiting your partner from either receiving or keeping a job. Through access to financial accounts, economic abuse can be shown by removing access to accounts and forcing their partner to have to ask for money. This is seen as a way the abuser is trying to take control of their partner.
2. Using coercion and threats
Another form of abuse is using coercion and threats towards the victim. The abuser uses forceful language to try to hurt them or make them do things that they are uncomfortable with such as dropping charges, illegal activities, etc. The threat tactic especially used when the victim tries to leave their abuser to scare them.
3. Using intimidation
The abuser's intent behind using intimidation is to scare the victim. This can be done through looks, actions, and gestures. A common violent action taken by abusers is destroying the victim's property, especially if the abuser has a protective order against them prohibiting from entering the property.
4. Using emotional abuse
Abusers use emotional abuse to belittle their partner and make them feel weak to try and prevent their partner from having the strength to leave them. One prevalent example is called gaslighting. This is where the abuser tries to make the victim feel like they are crazy and playing mind games. In turn the victim can feel embarrassed and guilty for the way they reacted.
5. Using isolation
This tactic secludes the individual from life outside of the home because the abuser does not want the victim to try and file a report or talk to someone about it with the fear of being outed. Therefore, by controlling where they go and who they talk to, the victim cannot leave.
6. Minimizing, denying, and blaming
This tactic is when the abuser tries to turn things around and on to the victim. This can lead to the victim suffering from self-blame. The abuser might also try to diminish the actions or say that the abuse never happened at all. Regardless, the abuser will refuse to take responsibility.
7. Using children
When the case involves children, it can make things more complicated as more individuals are being affected. The abuser uses children to their advantage to intimidate the victim. The abuser will threaten to take away the kids. The abuser will try to make the victim feel as if they are the scapegoat for "ruining their family."
8. Using male privilege
This tactic is directed towards male abusers who try to use their gender as a means of superiority. This can be seen as men adopting stereotypical views, such as being considered "master of the castle" or the only "bread winner," to receive the upper hand.
Although the wheel considers the perspective of a female victim-survivor, please note that abuse can happen to anyone. It is also important to account when this was released, as the wheel does not include the influence of technology in abuse. With the innovations of new features in technology abusers have more accessibility to track and stalk individuals, log into online accounts, monitor and control your internet use, etc. The way technology has become so prevalent in society has curated individuals to develop this dependency on it. Safe Alliance considers this and uses this resource to bring attention to abusive tactics of which the survivor is in denial over or unaware.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or sexual violence, please call the 24/7 Greater Charlotte Hope Line at 980.771.4673. This free, confidential resource can connect you with Safe Alliance programs and other community resources.
