Chapter 1

WHAT IS AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP?

You know yourself best

In this training, there may be difficult, traumatic, or scary situations around abusive behavior that may bring up intense emotions and feelings.

If you are experiencing sexual or physical abuse, please contact the police or an expert organization. Click on the following links for more info:

Contact the nearest association

DEFINITION

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP

Every relationship is different, but in a healthy relationship, boundaries are respected and partners have open and honest communication.

ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP

In an abusive relationship, boundaries are ignored or broken, and one partner seeks to maintain power over the other to control them.

DEFINITION

Intimate partner violence (IPV)

is the term we use to describe when a partner exerts POWER OR CONTROL over someone they are (or were) in a relationship with. It can take various forms such as psychological, sexual, and physical. It can happen between anyone in a couple, regardless of their age, gender, whether they reside in the same residence.

These abusive behaviours are intentional in order to create fear and to control their partners.

An abusive intimate relationship can have 9 key warning signs

The 9 key warnings

Here are some questions to ask yourself

1

Do you notice that you or a friend lack freedom in a relationship?

2

Do you notice that you or a friend cannot go against their partner’s requests because you fear a backlash?

3

Do you or a friend feel like you are extremely careful about not upsetting or angering your partner? What is causing this feeling?