Click image to enlarge. Sections are described on this page. DOMESTIC ABUSE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS 202 East Superior Street Duluth, Minnesota 55802 218-722-2781 www.theduluthmodel.org

Power and Control Wheel

The Power and Control Wheel show the different ways that someone might try to dominate or manipulate you. Recognizing these behaviors can help you understand if your relationship is unhealthy or if you are at risk. If you see any of these signs, remember that you it is not your fault, and you are not alone—and help is available. Your safety and well-being matter.

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​Using Intimidation

• Making you afraid by using looks, actions, gestures
• Smashing things
• Destroying your property
• Abusing your pets
• Displaying weapons

Using Emotional Abuse

• Putting you down
• Making you feel bad about yourself
• Calling you name
• Making you think you are crazy
• Playing mind games
• Humiliating you
• Making you feel guilty and responsible for their behavior

Using Isolation

• Controlling what you do, who you see, and talks to, what you read, where you go
• Limiting your outside involvement
• Using jealousy to justify actions

Minimizing, Denying, and Blaming

• Making light of the abuse and not taking your concerns about it seriously
• Saying the abuse did not happen
• Shifting responsibility for abusive behavior
• Saying you caused it

Using Children

• Making you feel guilty about children
• Using the children to relay messages
• Using visitation to harass you
• Threatening to take the children away

Using Male Privilege

• Treating you like a servant
• Making all the big decisions
• Acting like the “master of the castle”
• Being the one to define men’s and women’s roles

Using Economic Abuse

• Preventing you from getting or keeping a job
• Making you ask for money
• Giving you an allowance
• Taking your money
• Not letting you know about or have access to family income

Using Coercion and Threats

• Making and/or carrying out threats to do something to hurt you or your loves ones
• Threatening to leave you, to commit suicide, to report you to children’s services
• Making you drop charges
• Making you do illegal things

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If you notice any of the above signs, please remember that it is not your fault, and you are not alone. Help is available, and your safety and well-being are important. Reach out to a trusted professional, support organization, or local resources, below—you don’t have to face this alone.

In immediate danger

• Call 911
• If you or someone is feeling hopeless, helpless, thinking of suicide, contact 988 Lifeline:
• Chat with Lifeline
• Call or text 988
• For Spanish speakers, call 988, then press 2 or visit Ayuda en Español: Lifeline
• For deaf/hard of hearing, dial 711, then 988
• For Veterans
  • Call 988, then press 1
  • Text 838255
  • Chat with Veterans Crisis Line​

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​The Hotline

• Call 800-799-7233
• Text, "START" to 88788
• Chat live

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Love Is Respect

• Call 866-331-9474
• Text, "LOVEIS" to 22522
• Chat live

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Teen Line

• Call 800-852-8336
• Text, "TEEN" to 839863

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Resources

• Power and Control Wheel (Handout)
• Additional Health Education Materials (Handouts)

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References

Daip. (2025, September 10). Home page - Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs. Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs. https://www.theduluthmodel.org/

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Relationship Health

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Dating Health