The means by which the abuser exercises power and control can be diverse. Aside from physical and sexual abuse, they also include emotional and economic abuse.
What is Domestic Abuse?
Domestic abuse or controlling, coercive and threatening behaviour can be exercised via different types of abuse. Broadly speaking, we can identify four: physical, economic, emotional and sexual.
Emotional abuse
Control what the victim feels by undermining their self-esteem: calling names, insults, criticism, humiliation, intimidation, constant monitoring (micromanage), using children, etc.
Psychological abuse: control what the victim thinks by manipulating the person into doubting their own sanity (gaslighting), blaming the unhealthy relationship on the person, etc.
Stalking: unwanted and repeated surveillance of a person that causes fear for the person’s safety or the safety of others or substantial emotional distress to them.
Coercive control:system of oppression and terrorism where the perpetrator micromanages the lives of the victim, isolates them, forces them to obey a unique set of rules and erodes their autonomy and self-esteem by means of intimidation, threats, humiliation, love bombing, etc.
Economic abuse
Interference or control over the access to work or livelihood: turn off the alarm for work, hide the car keys, pressure to quit the job, harassment at work, etc.
Financial abuse: exploitation of financial resources by taking over large financial decisions, taking money, refusing to contribute to family income, controlling expenses, etc.
Physical abuse
Indirect physically harmful behaviour: hitting/kicking walls or doors, destructing personal property, throwing objects near or at the person, forcing them to swallow food/substances, etc.
Withholding of physical needs: interrupting sleep or meals, denying food or help if sick/injured, locking into or out of the house, etc.
Any unwanted sexual activity made against the will of the person including but not limited to:
making the person feel bad when they refuse sex
forcing the person to watch porn against their will
being touched in a sexual manner against their will
being prevented from using protection during sex against their will
recording sexual content in audio/photographs/videos against their will
unwanted rough or violent or role-play sexual activity
threatening or pressuring someone into unwanted sexual activity
rape or attempted rape
Domestic Abuse in the German law
The German criminal code does not have a domestic abuse law as of yet. However, the Federal Criminal Police Office considers the following offences as domestic abuse if the involved parties are in a former or current relationship:
murder (§211 & §212)
bodily harm (§223)
sexual assault, sexual coercion and rape (§177 & §178)
threat (§241)
stalking (§238)
coercion (§240)
deprivation of liberty (§239)
pimping (§180a)
forced prostitution (§184f)
Whilst coercion represents emotional abuse and is documented in preliminary proceedings, it is usually not pursued in court due to lower chances of success.
