Physical abuse refers to harm inflicted on the body. It includes actions such as hitting, punching, kicking, pushing, pulling, dragging, biting, twisting, pinching, slamming, hair-pulling, choking, or using weapons or objects. Injuries may be visible—like bruises or cuts—or hidden, such as dislocations or concussions.

Sexual violence involves coercing someone into sexual acts against their will, including rape, molestation, harassment, or forcing the victim to engage in sexually explicit physical acts meant to humiliate or degrade them. In recent years, a new form of intimate partner violence has emerged—threatening to share or actually distributing nude or intimate images without consent. This is commonly referred to as “revenge porn,” or non-consensual sharing of private sexual content.

Emotional abuse includes all non-physical behaviors, both overt and subtle, that occur in a repetitive and patterned manner over time. Common tactics include: Criticism (insults, name-calling, infantilizing) Hostility (yelling, silent treatment, verbal attacks) Intimidation (threats, posturing) Humiliation (using personal knowledge to shame the victim) Harassment (persistent, repeated demands) These behaviors are meant to control or dominate the victim, often leading to low self-worth, psychological distress, and in severe cases, suicidal thoughts.

Also known as “controlling behavior” or “coercive power and control”, this form of abuse occurs when one partner systematically uses various tactics to dominate and control the other in a relationship. Beyond visible harm, psychological, emotional, and financial abuse can inflict deep fear, pain, and suffering on the victim.