Abstract for: A Dynamic Model of Coercive Control in Adolescent Relationships

Over the past few years the issue of coercive control in intimate relationships has come to prominence in academic study and policy. This is concurrent with sustained efforts to understand adolescent relationships as they exist and how to intervene to prevent perpetration and victimisation to control and abuse in adolescence and into adulthood. This paper outlines a conceptual model that examines the dynamics of coercive control in adolescent relationships, through the interactions of attachment, dependency and power in adolescent romantic relationships that involve no attempt to gain power, one party attempting to gain power and both exhibiting power seeking behaviours. It examines how risk factors affect the incidence of control in relationships as well as the stay/leave decision and the chances of success of attempts to leave.