nsequences, due mainly to the greater physical strength of men. (Dutton & Waltz, 1995, p. 14).
There are many types of domestic violence which are used to for coercive control. These include physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, which may be directed at someone's person, children, property, or even pets. Physical violence includes physical restraint, pushing, striking, kicking, throwing objects, choking, smothering, slamming a head against a hard object, burning, throwing a dangerous substance onto one's skin or eyes, running over with an automobile, or attacking with a weapon (such as a knife or a firearm). Sexual abuse can include forcible intercourse or more subtle acts, such as forced nudity, provocative dressing, or viewing of pornography. It can also include coerced compliance with sexual acts through the use of implicit threats which may be based upon previous violence. (Dutton & Waltz, 1995, pp. 14-15).
Psychological abuse is usually defined as using a credible threat of violence which is derived from prior violence. This prior violence may have been inflicted on another person or the victim. Regardless of the type of threat, psychological abuse is used by the abuser to control the victim. Psychological abuse can include coercion or threats, such as to kill the victim, take her children away, destroy her financially, or coerce into illegal activity. It can also include intimidation (displaying weapons or destroying objects), isolation (limiting contact with others or limiting the use of transportation), minimization and blaming (denying the violence or blaming the victim), using children to control the victim (using custody or visitation proceedings to gain access to the victim or control her), use of economic resources (maintaining exclusive access to accounts or accruing debts in the victim's name), use of male "privilege" (making unilateral decisions regarding where to live and the victim's employment),...