Power and Control Wheel

The Power & Control Wheel can be helpful in understanding patterns of abuse in a relationship, though not every relationship that is unhealthy or abusive may fit this model. The Power and Control Wheel is a visual representation of abuse tactics. The inside wedges of the wheel include the subtle and ongoing behaviors of perpetrators; while the outer black ring represents physical and sexual abuse, which are more forceful and overt.  Often, the physical and sexual abuse acts reinforce the regular use of the other, more subtle methods, and may not even be needed or used in an abusive relationship.

*Although this Power & Control Wheel uses female pronouns (she/her) for the victim, and assumes a male perpetrator, abuse can happen to people of any gender in any type of relationship.  For the Power & Control Wheel in other languages and variations, visit https://www.theduluthmodel.org/wheels/

Power and Control Wheel Copyright by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project: 202 East Superior Street, Duluth, MN, 55802

Power and Control Wheel

The Power & Control Wheel can be helpful in understanding patterns of abuse in a relationship, though not every relationship that is unhealthy or abusive may fit this model. The Power and Control Wheel is a visual representation of abuse tactics. The inside wedges of the wheel include the subtle and ongoing behaviors of perpetrators; while the outer black ring represents physical and sexual abuse, which are more forceful and overt.  Often, the physical and sexual abuse acts reinforce the regular use of the other, more subtle methods, and may not even be needed or used in an abusive relationship.

*Although this Power & Control Wheel uses female pronouns (she/her) for the victim, and assumes a male perpetrator, abuse can happen to people of any gender in any type of relationship.  For the Power & Control Wheel in other languages and variations, visit https://www.theduluthmodel.org/wheels/

Power and Control Wheel Copyright by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project: 202 East Superior Street, Duluth, MN, 55802

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