Recognizing violence in a partnership is not easy - neither for those affected nor for outsiders. Because it is not always physical. While intimate partner violence - a term interchangeably used for domestic violence - often combines many forms of violence mostly starts with psychological abuse. It is therefore all the more important that we all know the signs of psychological violence.
If you recognize one or more of these points, take our anonymous quiz, read on about the spiral of violence or get in touch with our experts directly.
Control
Messages are read (secretly), phone calls are eavesdropped on, and social media profiles are checked: control is often the first step in exercising power and an alarming sign of a problematic, unequal relationship.
Isolation
Affected people keep appointments less and less often, often have to justify themselves and reaffirm their love for the other person over and over again. Doing something alone is often no longer an option, and even the mere desire to do so quickly leads to arguments within their relationship, which victims increasingly give in to.
Unequal importance and respect of needs
If a relationship is always about one person's needs and meeting those, a partnership quickly becomes one-sided and unbalanced. This can be a warning sign of an unhealthy relationship.
Fear of progress or explicit undermining of personal growth
Instead of support from their partners, affected people often experience insults and are ridiculed in their plans or ideas for personal development. Toxic people keep their counterparts down and target self-esteem. No one should be happy if they (the person seeking power) are not.
Losing themselves
Those affected often have the feeling that they have to constantly bend and pretend in order to meet the demands of their partner. Constantly having to play a role quickly leads to the fact that one no longer recognizes oneself or that even outsiders become aware of it.
