Domestic Violence: What is Coercive Control?

Invited on May 5 on the set of Public Sénat, the Delegated Minister for Equality between Women and Men, Isabelle Lonvis-Roma, he raised the issue of coercive control, stating that he wanted the latter to be better taken into consideration by justice. The executive would also consider enshrining it in law to strengthen its legislative arsenal on violence against women. ” In the femicides that I judged, in 9 cases out of 10, I systematically found this mechanism. It is important to identify it correctly “, Refers the minister to our colleagues in the public Senate. But what exactly are we talking about? Let’s make the point.

What is coercive control?

The NGO Women for Women France goes back to its commonly accepted definition: coercive control is “a deliberate act or behavioral pattern of control, coercion or threat used by an individual against a person, intimate partner or former partner, with the aim of making him dependent, subordinate and/or depriving him of his freedom of action “. Different strategies come into play: intimidation, humiliation, surveillance, manipulation, isolation…

As the NGO points out, the violence could be ” psychological, physical, sexual, emotional, administrative and/or economic “. It is a control that is part of time and repetition. It is therefore distinguished from isolated attacks.

Where does this term come from?

In an article by Worldpublished May 3, 2023, social psychology researcher at the University of Paris-Nanterre Andreea Gruev-Vintila traces the origin of the concept of coercive control to Korean War prison camps in the early 1950s.

American soldiers were captured, imprisoned and then released. The US Air Force realized that it collaborated with the enemy without being physically tortured. The Army called on social psychology researcher Albert Biderman to figure it out. What emerged was a list of methods of coercion: isolating the victim, monopolizing perception, inducing exhaustion, presenting threats, showing occasional indulgence, demonstrating the omnipotence of power, degrading the victim, demanding foolish and senseless actions. .

Many years later, in 2007, another American researcher, Evan Stark, transposed this concept to couples and families. The concept of coercive control, as we know it today, was born. As reported by Le Monde, Evan Stark sees in this phenomenon “the best predictor of feminicide. In France, there is still a lack of research to document it, but, in New South Wales, Australia, a study has done it: all the perpetrators of the 111 murders committed by men on their partners between 2008 and 2016 had coercive and controlling behaviors before the their murderous act “.

What is the difference with the notion of influence?

While the two words are often used interchangeably (incorrectly), control is actually an aspect of coercive control and refers to what the victim experiences, namely “ the influence or domination of another person “.

Is it legally recognized in France?

Coercive control has not yet entered the law, but many associations and lawyers are asking for it to be recognized as a separate crime. Since 2010, psychological violence within the couple has resulted “degrade quality of life and cause impairment of physical or mental health” they are a criminal offense in France. The notion of right of way was also included in the law in 2020.

Interviewed by our colleagues from France Info, M^And Pauline Rongier returns to what would allow for the recognition of coercive control:

So far there are several crimes: psychological violence, moral harassment, habitual or sexual violence. But nothing according to the lawyer, which does not allow us to grasp the complexity and all these control strategies. The same goes for the notion of influence, enshrined in law in 2020, but which focuses on the victims and not on the perpetrator’s strategies, regrets Pauline Rongier, such as when a husband confiscates identity documents or a woman’s credit card wife.

“Domestic violence: “coercive control”, a key concept to combat the hold some men have on their partner”, France Info, May 4, 2023

The criminalization of coercive control would then make it possible “change the way authorities understand and respond to gender-based violence” AND “better to hold perpetrators accountable, focusing on domestic violence as a pattern of violence, rather than isolated incidents” adds Women for Women France.

Some countries such as Scotland, Wales, England, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland and Canada already recognize it by law.

However, the notion of coercive control is not unanimous. Some argue, for example, that “Legislating the crime of coercive control may also encourage law enforcement to wait for a pattern of violence to emerge before making an arrest, rather than acting on an isolated incident” or even of “condemn less for facts which, taken separately, would have been condemned more ».

Is there any data on the subject?

According to a 2012 report by Evan Stark, between 60 and 80 percent of women seeking help for domestic violence have experienced coercive control.

Furthermore, as reported by Women for Women France, “A review of domestic violence-related homicides in New South Wales, Australia between March 2008 and June 2016 found that of 112 homicides, 111 involved coercive control tactics by the perpetrator over the victim prior to the ‘homicide’.

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