Power and Control versus Equality as a Core Polemic in Understanding Abusive Relationships

  Over the decades, as the concept of Domestic Violence has evolved; and as efforts aimed at better understanding of Domestic Violence, and successful Treatment and Prevention of Domestic Violence have emerged and matured;  model has been dominant; The Duluth Power and Control Wheel :   

"The Power and Control wheel is a way of visually representing the tactics typically used by men who batter. By batter, we mean the ongoing pattern of violence, coercion, intimidation and abuse in an intimate relationship. The graphic was created in 1982 by Ellen Pence, Coral McDonnell, and Michael Paymar as part of a curriculum for a court ordered program for men who batter. It was developed out of the experiences of women who were battered and attending support and educational groups in the working-class town of Duluth, Minnesota. These women were asked, “What do you want taught in court ordered groups for men who batter?” Their answers spoke to the need to bring the complex reality of battering out into the open.  That is, the lived experience of what actually goes on in a battering relationship needed to be recognized and exposed. As the designers probed, women began to talk about the tactics their partners used to control them.  Violence was commonplace. Less recognized but equally significant were other tactics of power, including money, the children, emotional and psychological put downs, undermining self-worth and other social relationships, constant criticism of women’s mothering, intimidation and various forms of expressing male privilege.  Over the weeks the designers revised and adjusted the graphic until the groups of women were satisfied the wheel captured their experience of living with a man who batters" (SOURCE).

According to the Duluth Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs, the Core Concepts that should be taught about and embedded in attempts prevent Domestic Violence in the Future include:

  Physical and Sexual Violence (outer ring)

Using Intimidation

Using Emotional Abuse

Using Isolation

Minimizing, Denying and Blaming

Using Children

Using Male Privilege

Using Economic Abuse

Using Coercion and Threats

  And Power and Control (in the Inner Core)

Click Here to View the Power and Control Wheel.

The EQUALITY WHEEL: 

  The ALTERNATIVE to POWER and CONTROL is Equality, according to the Duluth Model.  Equality in Relationships could be embodied as any or all of the following concepts are embraced by persons with potential for committing Domestic Violence are encouraged to let go of Power and Control-type thinking and behaviors; and instead, embrace the following, Equality-type thinking and behaviors: 

  "The Equality Wheel was developed not to describe equality per se, but to describe the changes needed for men who batter to move from being abusive to non-violent partnership. For example, the “emotional abuse” segment on the Power and Control Wheel is contrasted with the “respect” segment on the Equality Wheel. So the wheels can be used together as a way to identify and explore abuse, then encourage non-violent change" (SOURCE).

  NonViolence is on the (Outer Ring).

Non-Threatening Behavior

Respect

Trust and Support

Honesty and Accountabiliy

Responsible Parenting

Shared Responsibility

Economic Partnership

Negotiation and Fairness

  Equality (in the Inner Core).

Click Here to View the Equality Wheel.  

And Click Here for a Series of Video Explanations about the Power and Control and Equality Wheels.

Discussion Questions:

1. When considering the Power and Control Wheel and the Equality Wheel, what are some ways that you could see these concepts leading to either Abusive or Non-Abusive Relationships.

2. When you look at the Power and Control Wheel; what are some of the behaviors listed that you have taken part in in the past?

3. When you look at the Equality Wheel, what are some of the behaviors or ways of thinking listed that you feel you could use to have a better relationship?