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While signs of domestic violence, including physical or verbal abuse, may be easily identified, coercive control is a more subtle form of emotional abuse that may not be recognized as such. The not-for-profit community organization Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV) defines coercive control as a pattern of behaviors intended to control or manipulate the actions of another in a relationship (“What Is Coercive Control?” Relationships Australia Victoria). The goal of the person perpetrating the abuse is to use intimidation or fear to control or influence their partner, creating dependency on the abuser over the long term.

According to RAV and the website Healthline, a common strategy of coercive control is the attempt to isolate a person from friends, family, and outside support (“How to Recognize Coercive Control.” Healthline). The controlling partner will insist a target withdraw from other relationships or try to persuade them that those relationships are not healthy. An abuser will often exhibit jealousy about the target’s interactions with others, even work colleagues or acquaintances.

Monitoring activity is another red flag. This may include tracking movements, as Oliver uses an app to track Evie, or may take more subtle forms, such as monitoring social media and telephone calls.