Different types of abuse

Physical abuse
- Hitting, kicking, punching or slapping
- Pushing, shaking or throwing someone
- Choking or strangulation
- Burning or causing injuries
- Using objects or weapons to hurt or threaten someone
- Preventing someone from leaving or physically restraining them
Emotional abuse
- Constant criticism, humiliation or insults
- Belittling someone or making them feel worthless
- Deliberately causing fear or distress
- Threatening abandonment
- Withholding affection as punishment
- Making someone feel responsible for the abuser’s emotions
Psychological abuse
- Manipulation and intimidation
- Gaslighting
- Deliberately undermining someone’s perception of reality
- Creating confusion or self-doubt
- Threatening consequences for speaking out
- Controlling what someone thinks, believes or does
Verbal abuse
- Shouting and screaming
- Name-calling
- Swearing at someone
- Threats
- Racist, sexist or degrading language
- Constantly attacking someone’s character
Sexual abuse
- Sexual assault or rape
- Sexual contact without consent
- Sexual coercion
- Forcing sexual acts
- Using sex as punishment or control
- Unwanted sexual touching
- Sexual exploitation
- Child sexual abuse or exploitation
Financial or economic abuse
- Controlling someone’s income
- Taking their money
- Preventing them from working
- Refusing access to bank accounts
- Creating debt in their name
- Hiding financial information
- Using money to prevent someone from leaving
Coercive control
- A sustained pattern of domination and control
- Monitoring movements and communications
- Restricting friendships or family contact
- Controlling clothing, activities or daily routines
- Threats and intimidation
- Isolating the victim
- Making the person feel that they must constantly “walk on eggshells”
Social abuse / isolation
- Preventing contact with family or friends
- Turning people against the victim
- Monitoring social interactions
- Preventing participation in social activities
- Creating dependence on the abuser
Digital or technological abuse
- Monitoring phones or computers
- Tracking someone’s location
- Accessing accounts without permission
- Sending threatening messages
- Cyberstalking
- Posting private information or images
- Using technology to monitor or control someone
Stalking and harassment
- Repeated unwanted contact
- Following someone
- Appearing at their home or workplace
- Monitoring their movements
- Repeated calls or messages
- Threatening behaviour
Neglect
- Failing to provide necessary care
- Withholding food, medication, clothing or basic necessities
- Leaving a dependent person without appropriate supervision
- Ignoring physical or emotional needs
Medical abuse
- Withholding necessary medical care
- Preventing someone from seeing a doctor
- Interfering with medication
- Giving medication without consent or appropriate medical reason
- Using illness or healthcare as a means of control
Reproductive abuse
- Sabotaging contraception
- Forcing pregnancy or preventing pregnancy
- Pressuring someone to terminate or continue a pregnancy
- Controlling reproductive decisions
Spiritual or religious abuse
- Using religious beliefs to control someone
- Claiming divine authority over another person
- Shaming someone using religious teachings
- Preventing religious practice
- Threatening spiritual consequences for disobedience
Legal or administrative abuse
- Misusing legal processes to intimidate or control someone
- Making repeated baseless complaints
- Using finances or legal proceedings to exhaust a victim
- Withholding important documents
- Using another person’s identity or authority against them
Property or material abuse
- Destroying possessions
- Damaging someone’s home or vehicle
- Taking personal belongings
- Deliberately creating financial or housing insecurity
- Threatening to destroy valued possessions
Reputational abuse
- Spreading lies about someone
- Smearing their character
- Telling others they are unstable or dangerous
- Deliberately damaging their professional or social reputation
- Presenting a false public image of the victim or abuser
Elder abuse
- Physical, emotional, sexual or financial abuse of an older person
- Exploiting dependency
- Misusing power of attorney
- Taking money or property
- Neglecting care needs
Child abuse
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Neglect
- Exploitation
- Exposure to severe domestic violence or coercive control
Institutional abuse
- Abuse occurring within organisations or institutions
- Failure to protect vulnerable people
- Neglect or mistreatment by staff
- Abuse of authority or power
- Systems that allow abuse to continue or conceal it

An important point

Abuse is often a pattern rather than one isolated incident. A person may experience several forms simultaneously—for example, physical violence combined with financial abuse, sexual coercion, isolation, gaslighting and coercive control.

And abuse is not always visible. Some of the most damaging forms can leave no physical marks while profoundly affecting a person’s autonomy, confidence, sense of safety and ability to make decisions.