Coercive control laws to address intimate partner abuse exist in 10 states.

Addressing coercive control in intimate relationships is an important step toward protecting survivors.

What is missing is the inclusion of psychological abuse, which can be more harmful and entrapping.

Intimate partner abuse, termed in the legal realm as coercive control, has been recognized by 10 states making coercive control illegal. However, some differences exist with what the coercive control law includes and the coercive controlling experience by an intimate partner. The psychologically abusive aspects of coercive control in an intimate relationship are not recognized in the law and remain unregulated. Yet, this aspect of intimate partner abuse is traumatically damaging and might be the most entrapping aspect of intimate partner abuse.

When a coercive control law identifies behaviors and not tactics of psychological abuse, the serious harm of psychological abuse gets........

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