Definition of Domestic Violence and Abuse

Domestic violence and abuse can be any form of abuse or neglect that a child or adult experiences resulting in trauma from a family member as defined by the individual.

It is an abuse of power by one person to hurt and control someone who trusts and depends on them. Domestic abuse is any act or threatened act that intimidates a family member by creating a reasonable fear of property damage or injury to a family member.

Domestic abuse may include but is not limited to physical, psychological, harassment/stalking, cyber harassment/stalking, verbal, emotional, sexual, financial, spiritual, cultural, medication, legal abuse, coercive control, cruelty to animals and strangulation.

The working definition was developed using a combination of definitions used by the Government of Canada, the Government of Alberta, and the Protection Against Family Violence Act.

Types of Abuse

    • Sharing photos of an individual without their consent

    • Spreading rumors, false information, or cyberbullying on social media

    • Tracking a partners location through a phone or hacking into their phone to monitor all activity

    • Monitoring a partners conversation or reading their messages

    • Sending threatening/harassing messages or phone calls

    • Controlling access to partners technology or demanding all passwords to devices

    • Forcing an unwanted change in living situations

    • Selling personal possessions without consent or against their will

    • Building up debt in a partners name or lowering their credit score

    • Important documents going missing or being taken

    • Being cut off from family and friends and social media

    • Controlling a spouse's money (eg. Where they spend it/what they spend it on)

    • Not allowing a spouse to have their own bank account or access to their bank account

    • Control of a spouse's access to school or a job

    • Misusing a partners money or shared money, assets, or property

    • Stealing a partners pay cheque

    • Using a partner’s spiritual beliefs to manipulate, dominate or control them

    • Forcing cultural or spiritual beliefs onto a partner

    • Belittling a partners beliefs, traditions, or practices

    • Preventing a partner from participating in their traditions or practices

    • Coercing a partner into doing things against their religious or cultural beliefs

    • Patterns of control that cause fear or terror

    • Using threats or or force to control behavior

    • Isolating a partner from friends or family

    • Restricting access to employment, education or medical care

    • Dominating a partners behavior or choices

    • Not allowing a partner to seek attention for medical concerns, illnesses and/or injuries

    • Restricting a partners access to medications or medical devices

    • Coercing a partner to lie to medical professionals in order to get unneeded prescriptions

    • Threatening to reveal private medical conditions, shaming them for medical condition

    • Controlling a partners personal medical decisions

    • Stalking or following another person

    • Repeated actions that create fear for one’s safety or the safety of a loved one.

    • Marking threats in person, over phone, or the internet

    • Sending gifts, flowers, letters, etc. that are not welcome

    • Tracking an individuals phone, whereabouts, or messages