Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a pattern of behaviors by one partner in order to maintain power and control in a dating relationship. While physical violence is one form of intimate partner violence, it is not the only form. A perpetrator may be psychologically, verbally, sexually, financially, and/or emotionally violent. All forms of abuse are serious and no one deserves to experience violence in their relationships. The Power and Control Wheel below illustrates ways in which a perpetrator may use violence against their partner. 

Safer recognizes all forms of dating violence. If you feel you have been in an abusive relationship in any way, please refer to our What to do if… tab to gain further information about campus options and resources available to you.

Controlling behavior may include:

• Not letting you hang out with your friends
• Calling or texting you frequently to find out where you are, whom you're with, and what you're doing
• Telling you what to wear
• Having to be with you all the time

Verbal and emotional abuse may include:

• Calling you names
• Jealousy
• Belittling you (cutting you down)
• Threatening to hurt you, someone in your family, or himself or herself if you don't do what he or she wants.

Physical abuse may include:

• Shoving
• Punching
• Slapping
• Pinching
• Hitting
• Kicking
• Hair pulling
• Strangling

Sexual abuse may include:

• Unwanted touching and kissing
• Forcing you to have sex
• Not letting you use birth control
• Forcing you to do other sexual things