Through media and other examples, you may be aware of various forms of domestic violence, whether that is physical or verbal abuse. However, there is one kind of domestic violence that is especially pernicious, as it is subtle, almost invisble to those who are not looking for it. This form of domestic violence is known as coercive control, and it is strategically implemented by the abuser to slowly chip away at the victim’s independence. Today, we are going to introduce more about this concept, how coercive control ties into domestic violence, and what you can do to escape it. Let’s get started.
Key Takeaways
- Coercive control is a subtle form of domestic violence that erodes a victim’s independence over time.
- Victims often lose control over their body, time, and finances, with women being more frequently affected.
- Common tactics include controlling the victim’s health, intimacy, autonomy, and using technology for surveillance.
- New Jersey law now includes coercive control in its definition of domestic violence as of January 2024.
- Victims should seek help from hotlines and legal representation, with Ziegler Law Group, LLC offering support and assistance.
What is Coercive Control?
When you heard the word “coercive,” you may thing of something threatening or forceful, and that is true when it comes to coercive control. The victim who is being coerced will be met with actions and behaviors that redirect your actions, thoughts, and perceptions away from what is considered safe. In a way, coercive control is where domestic abuse begins, forming an invisible chain that runs from the beginning event where an abuser seizes a bit of control, all the way to the end. Some cases of coercive control may not develop into full physical abuse, but it can.
Victims often feel that nothing is theirs—not their body, their time, or their finances. While both men and women may encounter an abuser utilizing coercive control, a study from 2015 found that women are more likely to experience it.
Common Patterns Seen With Coercive Control
Common Patterns Seen With Coercive Control
Coercive control may not be as violent as other forms of domestic abuse, but it is harmful to the victim. Due to the signs not being immediately visible, victims of coercive control may experience such abuse for longer. Let’s take a look at four common patterns often seen in coercive control:
Monitoring Body and Health
One of the more heinous coercive tactics used is the manipulation of the victim’s physical and mental health. The abuser may exert control by dictating what the victim can eat, what clothes they wear, when and how they sleep, and what kind of daily schedule they keep. Manipulation is often backed with positive reinforcement, such as compliments and rewards, to make the victim question whether they are truly being mistreated. A victim in this situation may think, “They’re helping me lose weight or look better, so this can’t be bad.”
However, there can be a more severe side of this where the abuser monitors everything the victim eats, drinks, and does, sometimes requiring rigid routines that cause the victim to succumb to illness or other medical emergencies.
Power and Control Through Intimacy
Intimacy and sex are built on trust and communication—typically. In a relationship where someone is using coercive control, however, that trust is built on manipulation. Compliments, pleas, praise, promises, and gaslighting may be used to coax the victim into lowering their boundaries in the bedroom and within the relationship. Boundaries may also be forcibly overstepped and taken further and further with each new encounter.
Limited Autonomy
From the outside looking in on relationship plagued with coercive control, it may seem like the couple is inseparable, doing everything together. Wanting to spend every waking moment with someone when the relationship is new is not unusual. However, when autonomy is limited, it becomes be deleterous. For example, the person exerting the control may take autonomy away by taking the victim to work, even though they are perfectly capable of doing so themselves. Another example is the abuser taking up all the bills and telling the victim that they don’t need a job.
Abusers will also limit autonomy by insisting that they provide and invalidating all the choices that the victim makes, including their choice of friends.
Tracked with Technology
Sometimes abusers will use technology, such as GPS tracking and security cameras within the home, to monitor the victim of coercive control. When away, the abuser will watch the victim through the cameras or track their position to ensure that they are doing what they are allowed to do. Similarly, when the victim is out, they may be followed using GPS or other systems. Abusers may also hack into technology or ask for passwords to look through the victim’s phone and emails.
Again, on the outside, these actions may seem harmless, like someone merely wishing for the safety of a loved one. When you look beneath the surface, however, surveilling someone to such a degree limits their autonomy.
Are there Laws Against Coercive Control in New Jersey?
Are there Laws Against Coercive Control in New Jersey?
Yes, there are laws pertaining to domestic abuse and also specific legislation for coercive control in New Jersey. In January 2024, Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill (S1809) into law that includes coercive control in the definition of domestic violence. Coercive control now falls into the several other crimes included in the definition of domestic violence, including harassment, assualt, terroristic threats, criminal mischief, sexual assault, stalking, lewdness, cyber-harassment, among others.
How to Escape Coercive Control
If you or someone you know is a victim of coercive control, you are not alone in this. Help is available. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, visit thehotline.org, or even text “START” to 88788 to contact the agency. Furthermore, it is essential to have a legal representative on your side, preferably one who is experienced in domestic violence cases. The team at Zeigler Law Group, LLC is here to help guide you through this time and get you the justice you deserve.
Resource Box
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National Domestic Violence Hotline:
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Phone: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
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Chat: Online Chat
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Text: “START” to 88788
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Local Support Groups or Shelters in New Jersey:
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To find local resources, you can visit:
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For immediate help, consider contacting:
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New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence
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Phone: 609-584-8107
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Website: NJCEADV
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Additional resources include:
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Jersey Battered Women’s Services (JBWS)
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Phone: 973-267-4763
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Services: Emergency shelter, counseling, legal advocacy
- Website: https://jbws.org/
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Women Aware
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Phone: 732-249-4900
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Services: Domestic violence services, shelter, legal advocacy
- Website: https://womenaware.net/
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Legal Aid – Ziegler Law Group, LLC:
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Specialty: Domestic Violence, Family Law, Divorce
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Phone: 973-533-1100
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Location: New Jersey, USA
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Website: https://zieglerlawgroupllc.com/
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Download –
- Overcoming Domestic Violence in NJ
- The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children
- Your Guide to Safety and Legal Protection: Domestic Violence Legal Services
Contact Ziegler Law Group, LLC Today
Coercive control is a serious and insidious form of domestic violence that often goes unnoticed due to its subtlety. It manifests in various ways, from controlling a victim’s autonomy and personal relationships to monitoring their movements and behaviors through technology. Fortunately, with recent legal advancements in New Jersey, victims now have more robust protections and resources available to help them escape and seek justice.
If you or someone you know is experiencing coercive control, don’t wait to seek help. Ziegler Law Group, LLC is committed to providing the support and legal representation you need to regain your independence and safety. Contact us today for a confidential consultation, and take the first step toward reclaiming your life. Call us at 973-533-1100 today.
