Chapter 2 . part 1

CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE 9 SIGNS OF ABUSE ?

Situation

Meet Alex and Jordan

They have been dating for two years, and we are asking you to help identify the signs of IPV in the following situations.

If you have trouble figuring picking the right answer, don’t worry – we’ll help you out along the way.

Jordan

Hey, you going out this weekend?

Alex

Hey, can we go to dinner at my parents’ house on Saturday?

Jordan

Send me a picture of what you’re wearing to my work dinner tonight.

Alex

I think I need a break, I’m really confused.

Sometimes the signs happen at the same time, increase in intensity, or they add to one another, in something we call “escalation”.

Jordan

I knew you didn’t care about me. I might as well just kill myself.

This last example shows that manipulation can turn into intimidation and can become more intense over time

Thinking critically about the 9 warning signs of abuse means noticing when they happen together, and also noticing when they are escalating.

The use of more than one abuse tactic can mean that escalation is occurring. Be aware that the danger can increase to a level where severe types of physical, sexual and psychological abuse occur.

*Screenshot of location at a hair salon*

Escalation can also happen over weeks or even months…instead of in the moment.

Everything seems good at first. But then Jordan starts commenting on Alex’s posts with snide insults.

Remember that more than one sign, or a change in intensity, can be a signal to you that the abuse is escalating. Be aware of these changes because escalation leads to increase risk and danger for victims of abuse.