Types of Abusive Behaviour
Does any of this sound familiar? Abuse can be: emotional, verbal, physical, sexual, spiritual, and/ or financial. Try to know the signs, and watch for them in your relationships and those of others.
1 in every
youth report knowing a friend or peer who has been physically abused by their partner.
1 in every
girls who have been in a relationship have had their boyfriend threaten violence or self-harm if presented with a breakup.
Watch this video– messages from youth.
EMOTIONAL/ VERBAL ABUSE
- Isolating you from friends and family
- Threats of suicide or self-harm
- Threats or actual harm to harm you, your family, pets or possessions.
- Name calling, put downs and humiliating you.
- Making you feel like you are crazy or stupid
- Manipulation, guilt, blame and controlling behaviour
- Acting differently in public
- Stalking, this may include but not limited to: repeated harassment such as phoning or following you everywhere, constantly sending text messages, e-mails etc
- Spreading rumors
- Possessiveness and jealousy
- Consistently demanding to know your whereabouts or who you are with
- Forcing you into a vehicle and driving while intoxicated or driving dangerously.
- Preventing you from going to school or destroying school work
- Force you to use drugs or alcohol
PHYSICAL ABUSE (but not limited to)
- Hitting, slapping, punching, biting, pinching, spitting
- Pushing, shaking
- Holding, grabbing and restraining
- Pulling hair
- Throwing objects at you
- Burning
- Kicking
- Choking or strangling
- Stabbing, shooting
SEXUAL ABUSE (includes any activity of a sexual nature without your consent)
- Forced or coerced sex
- Forcing you to have sex with others
- Unwanted touching or kissing
- Sexual accusations
- Unwanted sexual acts
- Refusal to use birth control
- Non-consensual sharing of intimate images
- Sleeping around
- Unwanted use of pornography
- Withholding intimacy or affection
SPIRITUAL ABUSE
- Using religion or culture to justify abuse or dominance
- Preventing you from attending your place of worship or ceremonies
- Insisting you convert or practice their religion
- Making fun of or mocking your religion, culture, beliefs or ethnic dress
- Insisting you act/dress ‘more Canadian’
FINANCIAL ABUSE
- Expecting you to always pay or give them money
- Stealing your belongings or money
- Preventing you from getting work or sabotaging your job