Recognizing Aggressive Tendencies: Key Indicators to Watch Out For
In relationships, it's essential to maintain a balance of respect, trust, and equality. However, some individuals may exhibit abusive behaviour, which can take various forms. This article aims to shed light on the signs of emotional, physical, financial, and digital abuse, and provide resources for those who suspect they or a loved one are experiencing such situations.
Emotional and psychological abuse can manifest as constant jealousy, possessiveness, verbal insults, belittling, excessive criticism, guilt-tripping, manipulation tactics, isolation from friends and family, and gaslighting. Physical abuse involves pushing, hitting, restraining, unexplained bruises or injuries, cuts, burns, and fractures. Financial abuse can include controlling finances, making a victim financially dependent, and preventing access to bank accounts.
Isolation tactics, such as turning a partner against friends and family or making it difficult for a person to go to school, work, or anywhere independently, can also be signs of abusive behaviour. Rigid gender roles, expecting a person to do everything without question, can also indicate an abusive relationship.
Sexual coercion, pressurising a person into being intimate, is a form of abuse. This can include applying pressure to be sexually intimate despite a person saying no, giving a person drugs or alcohol to try and loosen their inhibitions, and implying a person owes sexual intimacy. Sexual abuse is defined as when a person attempts to force a person into sexual intimacy or acts in a way that is nonconsensual, and can include displaying violent behaviour during sexual intimacy, forcing a person to watch pornography, forcing a person to dress in a sexual way, and insulting a person with sexually explicit language.
Digital abuse can involve monitoring or restricting how a person uses their phone, computer, the internet, and social media, using technology to watch or track a person, insisting on knowing all the passwords a person uses, and constantly phoning or sending messages to a person when they are away from them. A person displaying abusive behaviour may be extra sensitive and unpredictable, seeing everything as a personal attack and blowing things out of proportion.
If someone suspects they or a loved one is experiencing abuse, they can contact organisations such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline, local Women's Resource Centers or domestic violence shelters, elder abuse hotlines and legal aid for older adults, counseling services, and law enforcement. These organisations typically offer confidential help, safety planning, counselling, and information on legal rights to support survivors of abuse. Early recognition and contacting help can be critical steps in addressing abusive situations safely.
Unrealistic expectations in a relationship, such as expecting a partner to be perfect, behave a certain way, and meet every need, can be an early sign of abusive behaviour. Quick involvement in a relationship, such as wanting to live together or propose quickly, can also be a red flag. A person displaying abusive behaviour may have common characteristics, such as low self-esteem.
If a person believes they are in immediate danger, they should call 911 immediately. Jealousy and possessiveness in abusive relationships may involve wanting to be with a partner all the time, frequent unannounced visits, accusing of flirting or having affairs, and limiting a person's social interactions.
Recognising and addressing abusive behaviour is crucial for maintaining healthy relationships and ensuring personal safety. If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, seek help immediately. Resources are available to support you.
