Coercive Control
Coercion involves controlling the way someone behaves, often in ways that are not in their best interests, through a wide range of tactics intended specifically for this purpose.
There is increasing recognition that coercive control tactics constitute abuse.
Already, some countries such as the UK, Ireland and some states of Australia have legislated to make coercive control a criminal offence in an intimate partner context.
Professionals in law enforcement, law, forensic mental health, social work, and other justice system associated professions are increasingly required to understand coercive control.
The huge problem with bringing professionals up-to-speed on the complex area of coercive control is that coercive controllers are profoundly skilled at hiding their harmful nature.
They are able to engage professionals in a compelling act of being ‘well-meaning’, painting the victim as ‘the problem’.
The RISK to professionals in the justice system who do not recognise and treat victims of coercive control appropriately is high and increasing rapidly.
The risk of justice system professionals ‘getting it wrong’ in relation to coercive control is high.
How can professionals see through the expert posturing and compelling mask of the savvy coercive control perpetrator? We have those answers.
What makes the Kalmor Institute a world leader in coercive control?
The Kalmor Institute has developed and patented the most comprehensive, nuanced model of coercive control in the world.
Our model, the Persistent Predatory Personality (PPP) model, is the most cutting-edge model available to have coercive controllers held to account in the courts (see note below).
The PPP, outlined in Dr Mitchell’s book Human Predators, is particularly powerful in showing a pattern of covert behaviours that can be used to have coercive controllers held to account.
We have published more red flags to assist in identifying human predators than any person or organisation on the planet.
We are the only advisory organisation whose work on coercive controlling behavioural patterns has been peer-review published:
The deeper context of coercive control: New insights into behavioural patterns in coercive controllers to support greater precision in social worker assessments of critical riskWe are the only consultancy in the world which combines our patented cutting-edge knowledge of coercive control with lived experience as well as deep capability in psychology, counselling, coaching, strategy, training, and skill development.
We have decades of experience in the justice system including family court. Our work is informed by deep understanding of all the systems connected with abuse.
Our deep familiarity with coercively controlling behaviours and their impact means those harmed by coercive controllers that we work with don’t need to be retraumatized by convincing us of what happened. We fully understand how complex, extremely harmful and difficult to believe, these behaviours are.
We understand coercive control impacts targets on many levels. The impact may be emotional, psychological, physical, reputational, financial, parental, social, psychological, work-related, sexual, spiritual and/or relational and it has an overwhelming impact on someone’s life. Our expert coaches are skilled at working with people on all elements of coercive control abuse.
Note: People who engage in coercive control exhibit a broader set of behaviours than just those that are coercively controlling. All human predators engage in coercive control; however, coercion as a form of control is just one attribute of human predators. The 20 attributes and 25 tactics of Kalmor’s patented PPP model more comprehensively encapsulates the characteristics of those who use coercive control. This makes it easier to ‘see’ them and hold them to account.
The Kalmor Institute’s Persistent Predatory Personality includes not only the attributes shared by all coercive controllers but also the 25 tactics they use to control, harm, exploit, and avoid exposure - we ‘see’ what might otherwise be difficult to understand or expose.
One of our greatest strength is in understanding deeply harmful, incurable coercive controllers and imparting our knowledge and support to those who must identify and work with them as well as those who have been compromised by them.Our internationally experienced educators and coaches know how to build knowledge and capabilities in others. We are not just imparters of knowledge.
What is Coercive control?
Coercive control is typically understood as an interaction between a perpetrator and a generally vulnerable person who is compelled to behave in certain ways which are not ultimately in their best interests.
Coercive control tactics include, for example, threats, intimidation, highly loving acts which are withdrawn strategically, withdrawal of communication, punishment, demeaning and disparaging remarks, to name a few.
Coercive control tactics are generally asserted slowly and in a way that is not obvious to those being targeted. In fact, a coercive controller will often commence addressing those they target with exceptionally positive reinforcement that is replaced with coercive tactics over time.
Coercive control results in the gradual decrease of another person’s agency, confidence, sense of self, freedom and potentially will to live. It is an extremely destructive process.
Coercive control is a form of abuse that can be used in many contexts including human trafficking, terrorism, and child prostitution, for example.
There is a rapidly growing requirement for professionals associated with the justice system to understand coercive control.
What can be done to prevent harm from coercive controllers?
There is a raft of ways that harm from coercive controllers or predators can be prevented. At a personal level, to reduce the risk of being targeted by a predator for you and those you love:
It is crucial to understand the many obvious red flags of coercive controllers. These are outlined in detail in Dr Mitchell’s groundbreaking book, Human Predators. Once you understand the red flags it will be MUCH easier to ‘see’ predators, those that assert coercive control. It is impossible to ‘unsee’ the red flags.
It is also crucial to do research. Predators are convincing, they will woo you, mesmerize you, compel you to believe them. They will present fiction as fact, convince you night is day and you will be genuinely convinced. Even those who have years of experience of coercive control abuse may again be drawn in to the false narrative of a predator. It is only in the research of another person that you will truly find clarity and safety.
There are many other ways we can protect ourselves and our communities from the predatory harm imposed by coercive controllers. These are discussed in Dr Mitchell’s book, Human Predators, her PhD and our social media messaging: Instagram | X | LinkedIn
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If you have any questions or would like to know more please contact the Kalmor team.
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