Last month, I penned an article about intimate partner violence (IPV), in which I briefly introduced coercive control as one of the most devastating forms of abuse. This phenomenon requires further exploration to underscore the profound psychological toll it takes on victims. Coercive control occurs in various settings (e.g., a parental figure abusing their child, an adult child exerting power over a dependent parent, or multiple perpetrators targeting a single individual, as seen in school bullying). However, this article will exclusively focus on the context of IPV, with particular attention given to women victims, and provide readers with a deeper and more nuanced understanding of this highly destructive form of abuse.

Coercive control refers to an array of manipulative and harmful behaviors that abusers routinely employ to deprive victims of autonomy and self-determination, ultimately conditioning them to be completely submissive. Common tactics include gaslighting, monitoring, stalking, isolation, degradation, financial control, property damage, coercion of criminal activity, sexual, spiritual and physical abuse, as well as homicidal threats. Unlike physical violence, which is often episodic and easily identifiable, coercive control operates in more subtle and insidious ways, making it difficult for victims to recognize and substantiate. Consequently,........

© The Korea Times