Abusive Behaviors

Relationship violence includes not only physical and sexual abuse but also extends to other forms of threatening and harmful behaviors.

Learn more about the various forms of abuse.

Forms of Abuse

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse entails the deliberate use of force, unwanted physical contact, or proximity to someone’s body in a manner that causes injury or puts them in danger. Even actions that don’t result in visible harm are unacceptable and constitute abuse.

Physical abuse includes:

Punching, slapping, heading, kicking, pinching, pulling hair, biting, etc.
nice it worked preventing them from eating or sleeping
Damaging property or throwing things
Using weapons to threaten or harm them
Blocking a door or restraining them to prevent them from leaving
Harming children or pets
Forcing the use of drugs or alcohol
Grabbing their face, throat or neck

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse involves pressuring, coercing, or forcing someone into sexual activity or acts, which may involve the use of drugs or alcohol. Any form of sexual engagement without consent is never acceptable, regardless of marital or relationship status.

Sexual abuse includes:

Demanding or coercing sex
Forcing uncomfortable sexual acts
Causing physical harm during sex
Involving others in sex without consent
Insulting them in sexual ways
Ignoring their feelings regarding sex
Forcing them to watch pornography
Purposefully trying to transmit an STD
Forcing them to dress in a sexual way

Emotional Abuse

Emotional, psychological, and verbal abuse comprise behaviors such as threatening, gaslighting, teasing, manipulating, and yelling, among others, that do not involve physical harm. Despite the absence of physicality, it is never acceptable to use words or actions to intimidate, humiliate, or frighten an individual.

Emotional abuse includes:

Criticizing them constantly
Blaming them for everything
Confusing them to distort their sense of reality
Attacking their self-esteem and self-worth
Threatening to expose their secrets
Name-calling, insulting, and mocking
Yelling and screaming
Embarrassing or humiliating them in public
Criticizing or diminishing their accomplishments
Forcing them to do something using threats
Acting excessively jealous or possessive
Constantly accusing them of flirting or cheating

Digital Abuse

In the digital era, relationship violence extends to digital abuse via the internet, text messages, and social media platforms. Despite the absence of physical harm, it is unacceptable to engage in digital behaviors such as cyberbullying, harassment, stalking, or intimidation.

Digital abuse includes:

Dictating who can or can’t be friends on their social media
Sending insulting or threatening messages
Using technology to monitor their location or activities
Sending or demanding unwanted, explicit images
Stealing their passwords or personal information
Spreading rumors about them on social media
Constantly texting or messaging them to instill fear
Looking at their text, calls, or photos

Financial Abuse

One of the more subtle forms of relationship violence, Financial abuse, is also the most common. It involves leveraging money to assert power and control, which may include preventing someone from working, pursuing education, accessing money, or participating in financial decisions. It is never acceptable to manipulate or control someone’s finances, their spending, or their earning potential.

Financial abuse includes:

Denying them access to personal or family income
Forbidding or limiting work education
Causing them to lose their job
Stealing their money or property
Refusing to work or contribute to the household
Confiscating individual or joint tax returns
Refusing to pay for Necessities or shared expenses
Forcing them to sign financial documents
Making them account for every cent spent

Stalking

Stalking entails the repeated observation, pursuit, or harassment of an individual, often with the intention of monitoring or instilling fear. It is never acceptable to monitor their locations, activities, or movements without their explicit consent, whether in person or via technology.

Stalking includes:

Following or tracking their location
Spying on or watching them with hidden cameras
Monitoring their movements and interactions
Suddenly showing up without being invited
Cyberstalking through text, email, apps, or social media
Monitoring their use of a computer or mobile device
Repeatedly calling and hanging up
Contacting their friends and family seeking their location

Reproductive Abuse

Reproductive abuse entails coercing or controlling decisions regarding birth control, contraceptives, pregnancy, and childbirth. It is never acceptable to deprive individuals of their right to make these choices autonomously.

Reproductive abuse includes:

Refusing to use a condom of birth control
Removing, breaking, or tampering with a condom
Lying about birth control (vasectomy, pill, Etc.)
Forcing pregnancy or an abortion
Continually keeping them pregnant
Sabotaging birth control

Spiritual Abuse

One of the less addressed types of relationship violence is spiritual or religious abuse. This involves denying individuals the freedom to practice their own beliefs or coercing them into adopting another’s beliefs. Everyone has the fundamental right to believe and practice as they choose, and it is never acceptable to infringe upon that right.

Spiritual abuse includes:

Coercing them into practicing religious or spiritual beliefs
Preventing them from practicing religious or spiritual beliefs
Using their religious or spiritual beliefs for manipulation
Ridiculing their religious or spiritual beliefs
Forcing religious or spiritual beliefs on children

Download List as PDF

Domestic Violence

How To...

Violence Prevention

Abusive Behaviors

Forms of Abuse

Physical abuse includes:

Sexual abuse includes:

Emotional abuse includes:

Digital abuse includes:

Financial abuse includes:

Stalking includes:

Reproductive abuse includes:

Spiritual abuse includes:

Get Help

Get Information

We do not provide emergency services

for help call DV hotline: 1 800-799-7233
find a local domestic violence program near you: Visit our map of Colorado.

Domestic Violence

How To...

Violence Prevention

Abusive Behaviors

Forms of Abuse

Physical abuse includes:

Sexual abuse includes:

Emotional abuse includes:

Digital abuse includes:

Financial abuse includes:

Stalking includes:

Reproductive abuse includes:

Spiritual abuse includes:

Get Help

Get Information

We do not provide emergency services

for help call DV hotline: 1 800-799-7233find a local domestic violence program near you: Visit our map of Colorado.

for help call DV hotline: 1 800-799-7233
find a local domestic violence program near you: Visit our map of Colorado.