“Coercive control is about trying to take away someone’s autonomy and their agency,” explains Laura Richards, a renowned criminal behavioral analyst and expert on domestic violence. In this episode, Dr. Z sits down with Laura and dives into the concept of coercive control, a form of domestic abuse that is often misunderstood and frequently dismissed.

Dr. Z and Laura discuss the misuse of terms like “narcissistic abuse” and “toxic relationships,” stressing the importance of proper terminology and identification to prevent further harm. Laura also highlights the long-standing societal variables at play that are responsible for perpetuating domestic violence within relationships.

The conversation explores high profile cases of domestic violence such as Gabby Petito and Lauren Dunne Astley to illustrate coercive control and its tragic outcomes. Laura discusses the media’s portrayal of domestic violence in relationships, noting how it often memorializes male perpetrators while perpetuating victim-blaming.

Laura also shares her tireless efforts to have coercive control legally recognized as a form of domestic abuse, emphasizing the need for continued advocacy, improved education, and increased awareness. Her incredible work aims to change societal attitudes and legal frameworks to provide better protection and support for victims of coercive control.

Quotes

“We have to think about coercive control in a micro way, in a macro way. And really, it’s about trying to take away someone’s autonomy and their agency. It’s about utter domination of the individual. So the perpetrator looks to subjugate them and reduces their autonomy and their agency so that they focus on the perpetrator’s needs. It’s about an unfreedom. And it’s quite important that we think about coercive control and the abuser. What are they seeking to achieve?” (06:59 | Laura Richards)
“I really want people to just think about these terms—toxic relationships—but the relationship on its own is not the problem. It’s the abuser. And we have to focus on them and name them to help the victim understand what’s happening to them because 52% of victims don’t even know that they’re being coercively controlled; because as women and girls, we’re conditioned that men hold power.” (14:51 | Laura Richards)
“Women don’t hold power and that’s the power imbalance. That’s what coercive control is about—a power imbalance. So I’ve put the word on freedom, but also power imbalance that’s being exploited. And it can be exploited at family court, in civil court, in criminal court, because those systems are created by men to protect men. So what I’m trying to do is reverse that process. And that’s why it’s girls and women who are oppressed. Men are not oppressed. They are the ones who hold power.” (53:36 | Laura Richards)

Links
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