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A helpful conceptual model: Duluth Program model

Using the right conceptual model is vital to capturing and responding to the risks posed by coercive control. Duluth Program model.
Little girl sitting with head in her hands while large shadow of man with bottle in his hand and woman pointing to him in background

Duluth Program model

To complete part of our learning, let’s hear from a practitioner. In this brief video Scott Miller, a professional behavioural change expert working the Duluth Program model, explains how the dynamics of coercion and threats work to pressure the victim into compliance or submission.

This is an additional video, hosted on YouTube.

The DuluthModel (2016) – Coercion and Threats – Understanding the Power and Control Wheel (1:40)

Scott describes what you have learned as major facets of the construct of coercive control. In his example the aggressor’s use of something of value to the victim (children) has been to intentionally gain control, to coerce the victim into compliance (in this case of the victim’s body – sex). It would be assumed that at some earlier point in the abusive tactics the perpetrator had established his capacity to deliver on his ‘promises’ to hurt, harm or withhold.

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Understanding Coercive Control

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