Teen Power and Control Wheel

In an unhealthy relationship one partner will try to control and have power over their partner. This wheel, developed by Domestic Abuse Intervention Project, shows some of the tactics, actions, and behaviors someone will use in an unhealthy and abusive relationship to gain and maintain control over their partner. This is an excellent tool to use in discussing healthy and unhealthy relationships with your child. Work around the wheel and ask your child if they have experienced these and ask them to write down examples. This creates a visual for them to make the connection that what they are experiencing is unhealthy and/or abusive.

Warning Signs

Emotional

-Guilting
-Jealousy
-Putting down family and friends
-Pressuring for sexual activity

Digital

-Asking for password to social media accounts
-Stalking them online
-Asking for nudes or sending nudes without consent

Verbal

-Belittling
-Yelling, screaming
-Over critical of actions

Physical

-Hitting
-Slapping
-Throwing objects
-Blocking doorways or exits

Patterns of Abuse

People often ask “Why do they stay?” The relationship isn’t always a violent one. As this image shows, there are multiple stages an abusive relationship goes through before the tension builds and the incident or abuse happens. It can be hard to leave or to recognize that they are in an unhealthy relationship during the honeymoon and calm stages. Patience and non-victim blaming statements are what are needed when supporting someone in an unhealthy or abusive relationship.

Experiencing Dating Violence?

1 in 3 women, 1 in 4 men, and 1 in 3 teens experience an abusive relationship.
You are not alone.

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Contact us

Safe Passage Inc. & Prevention
PO Box 235
Batesville, Indiana 47006
812-932-SAFE (7233)

This project is supported in part (or in whole) by grant, 03215VAGX006403 from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. Views contained herein are those of the author and do not represent the position of USDOJ or ICJI.

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