How to avoid Coercive Behaviour

RTS Article – Educate Blog – How to avoid Coercive Behaviour

1. What is coercive behaviour?
2. Gaslighting
3. How to stop coercive behaviour
4. What do I need to do to protect myself?

1. What Is Coercive Behaviour?

It depends on three assumptions: a) You have the authority; b) You have the ideal victim; c) You believe you have the ability to lie while giving non-involved people the impression you are not doing anything.

So, coercive behaviour is telling someone who has strong belief in themselves that what they believe is not true. Once a doubt is planted they then systematically create an alternative truth that they want the other person to believe.

The victim does not have to stop believing the truth, but the main aim is to control the victim’s mind, heart and feelings enough to force them to do anything the coercive person wants.

2. Gaslighting

A popular word used instead of coercive behaviour is “gaslighting.” There was a 1944 film titled Gaslight in which a husband kept turning the hall light on and off. He then told his wife that she was the one doing it. This went on repetitively until the wife lost her mind. (1)

3. How to stop coercive behaviour

The coercive behaviour is not always deliberate, but knowing you are doing it and continuing in it is included in the Domestic Abuse Act. On 9th March 2018 police were given new training in enforcing the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018. (2)

In Scotland, a case involving coercive behaviour is tried in the high court. On conviction on indictment there is a maximum sentence of 14 years for the offender. (3)

4. What do I need to do to protect myself?

Unfortunately coercive behaviour graduates into new relationships, new workplaces and new victims.

As a victim you can report the occurance to the police, your employer or your voluntary organization/church governing body.

You have the choice what you will do next. The important thing is to confront the abuser and take along anther person you trust to support you. You can then establish what you will tolerate or not.

The end result is you, a) know what the problem is, b) you have identified yourself as the victim, and c) you can take the necessary steps to prevent it happening again. If that means ending a relationship or job, that is the step you need to take after exhausting all other options.

Once you have decided to stop being coerced your life will change.

References:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaslighting
2. https://www.gov.scot/news/domestic-abuse-act-in-force/
3. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2018/5/contents/enacted
4. Featured image source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaslight_(1944_film)#/media/File:Gaslight_1944_trailer(2).jpg