Domestic abuse is often understood as physical or verbal abuse but there are also subtle forms of abuse, including coercive control.

This two-week course from Central Queensland University will help you understand coercive control as a pattern of behaviour that makes you feel controlled, isolated, scared, or dependent.

By the end, you’ll be able to identify and describe the facets of coercive control and how to assess these control dynamics in practice.

Unpack gender norms

As coercive control usually affects women, you’ll explore the role of gender norms and how society’s expectation of women contributes to coercive control.

With this knowledge, you’ll discover the importance of analysing coercive control as a construct as you uncover the wider issues relating to intimate partner violence.

Explore conceptual models such as hegemonic masculinity

Throughout the course, you’ll explore models such as social entrapment, double standards, and hegemonic masculinity.

This will help you gain a conceptual understanding of coercive control as you start to explore frameworks and strategies for working with both victims and perpetrators.

Learn to prepare a better risk assessment for victims of intimate partner violence

Through exploring coercive control in action, you’ll be able to define the patterns of behaviour related to coercive control. With this understanding, you’ll discover techniques for working with men who use coercive control.

By the end of the course, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to improve your risk assessment and screening questions to better reflect the lived experience of victims of intimate partner violence.