Battered Men: Power & Control Wheel

The updated version of the "The Duluth Model" discussion is from insert of the actual article on the MenWeb page. Please visit that site for more discussion on the "The Duluth Model" and the faulty perceptions. CLICK HERE

The "Duluth Model"
Power and Control Wheel
A version for female perpetrators.

Domestic violence is a people problem, not a gender issue. Women are hurt by not getting the batterer treatment they need and battered men are not reporting violence at the hands of their abuser.

Duluth Model power and control wheel

Duluth Model power and control wheel.
Revised for female perpetrators

Control and abuse (destructive)	Equality (constructive)
Using coercion and threats making and/or carrying out threats to do something to hurt him threatening to leave him, to commit suicide, to report him to welfare threatening to call 911, say he was the abuser threatening to file false domestic violence, restraining order or child sexual abuse charges making him drop charges making him do illegal things Denying or refusing to access to needed medical care or medications	Negotiation and fairness seeking mutually satisfying resolutions to conflict accepting change being willing to compromise
Using intimidation making him afraid by using looks, actions, gestures smashing things destroying his property displaying weapons (such as knives)	Non-threatening behaviour talking and acting so that he feels safe and comfortable expressing himself and doing things
Using economic abuse refusing to contribute income to basic expenses making him ask for money giving him an allowance taking his money not letting him know about or have access to family income Forcing him to take higher-paying, more hazardous, less satisfying job preventing him from getting or keeping a job	Economic partnership making money decisions together making sure both partners benefit from financial arrangements
Using emotional abuse putting him down making him feel bad about himself using sex as a weapon calling him names making him think he's crazy playing mind-games humiliating him making him feel guilty	Respect listening to him non-judgmentally being emotionally affirming and understanding sharing responsibility for mutually-satisfying intimacy valuing opinions
Using gender privilege treating him like a servant treating him as just a wallet making all the big decisions acting like the 'mistress of the house' being the one to define male and female roles	Shared responsibility mutually agreeing on a fair distribution of work making family decisions together
Using isolation controlling what he does, who he sees and talks to, what he reads, where he goes limiting his outside involvement using jealousy to justify actions	Trust and support supporting his goals in life respecting his right to his own feelings, friends, activities and opinions
Using children making him feel guilty about the children using the children to relay messages alienating children from him using visitation to harass him threatening to take the children away	Responsible parenting sharing parental responsibilities being a positive non-violent role model for the children
Minimising, denying and blaming making light of the abuse and not taking his concerns about it seriously saying the abuse didn't happen shifting responsibility for abusive behaviour saying he deserved it saying he caused it saying it was the only way he would pay attention	Honesty and accountability accepting responsibility for self acknowledging past use of violence admitting being wrong communicating openly and truthfully

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE


	"Society does not have the right to discriminate against a victim of domestic violence because of their gender"