Battering is an intentional act used to gain power and control over another person. Physical abuse is only one part of a whole system of abusive behaviors utilized and is never an isolated event. Each tactic used supports the gaining of control, with physical abuse holding the system together and giving it strength.

Below is a list of supporting tactics that are implemented in a continuum of severity over time.

EMOTIONAL ABUSE: Putting her down or making her feel bad about herself, calling her names, playing mind games to make her feel crazy, ignoring her emotional needs, ridiculing her in public and blaming her for all the problems in the relationship.

ECONOMIC ABUSE: Trying to keep her from getting or keeping a job, taking her money, making her ask for money, destroying her property, keeping property in his name and hiding money from her.

SEXUAL ABUSE: Having her do sexual acts against her will, treating her like a sex object, having affairs, assaulting the sexual parts of her body and sexually assaulting her children.

USING THE CHILDREN: Threatening to report her to children's protective services, undermining her parenting, playing on guilt of children needing 2 parents, targeting the children with physical abuse if she resists him, using the children to give threats or messages and using visitation time to harass her.

THREATS: Threatening suicide, homicide or physical injuries, to take the children, to report her to welfare or to do anything that he knows would cause her harm in her life.

INTIMIDATION: Putting her in fear by using looks, actions, gestures, loud voice or destroying items.

USING MALE PRIVILEGE: Treating her like a servant, making all the "big" decisions, quoting misinterpreted bible passages, and acting like the "King of the castle".

ISOLATION: Controlling what she does, who she sees and talks to, where she goes. Interrogating her about her actions and destroying her relationships with support systems.