Abuse is a pattern of controlling behaviour. In families, an abusive person can use many tactics to gain power over another family member. Examples include:

• Damaging personal property
• Name-calling and other forms of verbal and emotional abuse
• Hitting, punching, kicking and other forms of physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Neglect
• Forced confinement
• Stalking
• Ridiculing a person's religious beliefs
• Shaking a baby
• Threatening to harm or harming people or animals

Who are the victims?

Victims of abuse in families can include:

• Spouses
• Dating and common-law partners
• People in same-sex and LGBTQ* relationships
• Children and youth
• People with disabilities
• Older adults and elders
• Pets

Is your relationship healthy?

Take this quiz to find out.

 

*LGBTQ is a commonly used acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-identified, transsexual, two-spirited and queer identities. Sexual minority is a synonymous term.