WPSN: Power & Control

Whether you are in a marriage, dating, or living together unmarried, you need to be
aware of the signs that your "partner" is in a Power and Control game with you. But
this is no game! It is real and it is potentially extremely dangerous to your emotional,
spiritual, and physical well-being. Below are just some of the telling signs.

Verbal Abuse

Calling you names
Criticizing you
Humiliating you publicly
Putting you down
Embarrassing you

Destruction of Personal
Property

Destroying personal effects (pictures, letters,
clothing, gifts)
Ruining belongings
Defacing or causing damage to partner's home or
auto.

Threats, Anger and
Intimidation

Using looks, actions, expressions or a loud voice to
intimidate partner
Smashing or throwing objects
Threatening to leave partner or abandoning him/her in
a dangerous place
Threatening physical harm

Jealousy, Isolation,
Possessiveness and
Restriction of Freedoms

Using jealousy as a sign of love instead of insecurity
Controlling what partner does, whom partner sees
and talks to, where partner goes
Refusing to let partner work or join activities/dropping
by unexpectedly to "watch" activities
Accusations of you cheating on partner

Abuse of "Male Privilege"

Making all the decisions
Going out with the "boys" or "girls," but not allowing
you to do so with your friends
Walking out on an argument and leaving you
Doing all the telephoning and expecting you to be there