Power and Control Wheel

The Power and Control Wheel represents the experience of women who live with a man who beats them. It does not attempt to give a broad understanding of all violence in the home or community but instead offers a more precise explanation of the tactics men use to batter women.

Battering is one form of domestic or intimate partner violence. It is characterised by the pattern of actions that an individual uses to intentionally control or dominate his intimate partner. That is why the words “power and control” are in the center of the wheel.

A batterer systematically uses threats, intimidation, and coercion to instill fear in his partner. These behaviours are the spokes of the wheel.

This wheel was designed with women in mind, but, we at SDV know all too well that a large proportion of suffers of abuse are men. We do not discriminate; we are here to help you no matter what your gender. Abuse is abuse and it happens to men and women. The behaviours in this wheel are indicative of an abuser/perpetrator (it is not an exhaustive list).

If you are not sure if you are suffering from abuse, then call us on our free helpline and we can advise and support you.

The Equality Wheel was developed not to describe equality per se, but to describe the changes needed for people who batter to move from being in an abusive relationship to being in a non-violent partnership. For example, the “emotional abuse” segment on the Power and Control Wheel contrasts with the “respect” segment on the Equality Wheel. So the wheels can be used together as a way to identify and explore abuse, then encourage non-violent adjustment.