The Duluth Model
In 1984, staff at the Domestic Abuse Intervention Project (DAIP) began developing curricula for groups for men who batter and victims of domestic violence. They wanted a way to describe battering for victims, offenders, practitioners in the criminal justice system and the general public. Over several months, they convened focus groups of women who had been battered.
“We listened to heart-wrenching stories of violence, terror and survival.”
After listening to these stories and asking questions, we documented the most common abusive behaviors or tactics that were used against these women. The tactics [chosen to be represented in the Duluth Power and Control Wheel,] were those that were most universally experienced by battered women.
Duluth Power and Control Model
Battering is one form of domestic or intimate partner violence. It is characterized by the pattern of actions that an individual uses to intentionally control or dominate his intimate partner.
That is why the words “power and control” are in the center of the wheel. A batterer systematically uses threats, intimidation, and coercion to instill fear in his partner. These behaviors are the spokes of the wheel. Physical and sexual violence holds it all together—this violence is the rim of the wheel.
Making the Power and Control Wheel gender neutral would hide the power imbalances in relationships between men and women that reflect power imbalances in society.
By naming the power differences, we can more clearly provide advocacy and support for victims, accountability and opportunities for change for offenders, and system and societal changes that end violence against women.
Now complete the short quiz below to record your learning before you can progress to the next module.
