HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS
PARTNERSHIPS·        
  • Joint decision making
  • Shared responsibilities
 DOMINATION·        
  • Abuser decides
  • Servant/Master
EMOTIONAL HONESTY
  • Feel safe to admit and
    share fears and
    insecurities
 EMOTIONAL MANIPULATION
  • Use jealousy, passion, stress &
    frustration to justify actions
SEXUAL RESPECT·        
  • Accept that “no” means
    “no”
 SEXUAL ABUSE·        
  • Force partner to do things against
    his/her will.
PHYSICAL SAFETY·        
  • Respect partner’s physical
    space
  • Express self non-violently
 PHYSICAL ABUSE
  • Hit, choke, kick, pinch, pull hair,
    poke, twist arms, trip, bite, retrain,
    use weapons
SUPPORTIVE TRUSTING
  • Listen and understand
  • Value partner’s opinions
 CONTROLLING
  • Name calling, mind games
  • Isolate partner from friends, loved
    ones
REPESPECTFUL
  • Respect right to differing
    feelings, friends, and
    activities
  • Support partner’s goals
 INTIMIDATING
  • Charming in public, menacing in
    private
  • Destroying property or pets
  • Making light of abuse:  “You’re too
    sensitive”
*Adapted from “Don’t Die for Love – STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,”
from Women’s Work, Public Arts Program of Liz Claiborne, Inc.
Patterns of verbal, psychological and physical abuse often escalate,
resulting in personal assault, rape, domestic or dating abuse, even murder.
Relationships - Healthy vs Abusive
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