Domestic abuse isn’t only physical violence. It can be emotional, controlling, or threatening behaviour, and it can be difficult to recognise, especially when it builds up gradually over time.
In Scotland, domestic abuse is understood as a pattern of abuse by a partner or ex-partner that causes harm (including emotional, physical, financial and psychological harm) and it is a crime. The definition used by Police Scotland describes domestic abuse as including physical, verbal, sexual, psychological, or financial abuse.
Examples of domestic abuse
Domestic abuse can include many behaviours, such as:
- Coercive control: controlling someone’s life through threats, isolation, or pressure.
- Physical abuse: hurting someone through physical force.
- Emotional or psychological abuse: putting someone down, frightening them, or “messing with their head” (for example, feeling like you’re “walking on eggshells”).
- Sexual abuse: forcing or pressuring someone into sexual activity they do not want, or forcing them to watch pornography.
- Economic abuse: controlling or undermining access to essentials and resources.
- Financial abuse: controlling access to money.
- Harassment: repeatedly intimidating or bothering someone, even after being asked to stop.
- Stalking: persistently following, watching, or messaging someone in a way that feels frightening.
- Technology abuse: using technology to harass, control, monitor, intimidate, or threaten someone.
If you’re unsure
It’s common to feel uncertain about whether what you’re experiencing “counts” as domestic abuse, especially if there hasn’t been physical violence. Domestic abuse can be controlling, coercive, and harmful in many forms.