Healthy Relationships

• Joint decision making and sharing responsibilities: Partnership
• Freedom to decide issues of work, school and money: Feeling independent
• Shares fears, insecurities and feelings with partner: Emotional honesty
• Acceptance that “no” means no: Sexual respect
• Expressions are non-violent: Physical and mental safety
• Each supports differing views, feelings, friends and activities and listens, understands and values partner’s opinions: Respect

Abusive Relationships

• The abuser makes most decisions and conducts a “master over servant” relationship
• Abuser denies job freedom and controls the finances
• Abuser is jealous and uses reasons of stress and passion to justify actions
• Abuser forces partner into sexual acts against their will
• Abuser may hit, choke, kick, pull hair, use weapons, verbally abuse, push etc
• Abuser may be charming in public and the opposite in private.
• May destroy family pets, use put downs to control their partner (name calling), mind games, isolates partner from family and friends.