- Statistics show that 80% were abused as children and saw their mothers abused
- Embarrasses you with bad names and put-downs in front of your family or friends
- Will blame their partner for their abusive behaviour
- Controls what you do, whom you see or talk to, where you go or what you wear
- Places high and unrealistic demands on partner and/or children
- Prevents you from seeing or talking to your family and or friends
- Tends to be very jealous and possessive of partner
- Takes your money, makes you ask for money, or refuses to give you money
- Partner is the abuser's sole emotional support
- Tells you that you're a bad parent or threatens to take away or hurt your children
- Tends to express all negative feelings as anger
- Acts like the abuse is no big deal, tells you that it's your fault or denies even doing it
- Generally has low self-esteem
- Destroys your property or threatens to kill your pets
- Is violent and threatening as a means to gain control
- Uses guns, knives or other weapons to frighten you
- May threaten suicide or physical harm to partner/children if partner leaves
- Shoves, slaps or hits you
- Comes from all socio-economic, educational, racial, age and ethnic groups
- Threatens to commit suicide if you don't behave a certain way
- Can be very pleasant to the outside world, yet extremely unkind at home
- May also show his "true colors" to the whole world
- Believes in the old stereotypical views of male/female roles and relationships
- Frequently demanding in sexual behaviour, will try to manipulate or coerce partner into having sex
- Believes in the old stereotypical views of male/female roles and relationships
- Has no sympathy for partner's physical or emotional pain
IF YOU HAVE CHECKED ONLY ONE OF THESE THEN YOU ARE IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP