Bidermans Chart of Coercion Applied to Domestic Violence

In 1957, sociologist Albert Biderman described the tactics torturers use to weaken and terrify prisoners of war. Evan Stark transferred these ideas to the field of domestic violence. He called this strategy coercive control.

Coercive control isn’t a single act—it’s a pattern, a strategy, a subtle configuration of power built to dominate an intimate partner and protect the abuser’s sense of entitlement. It can show up as isolation that shrinks a survivor’s world, degradation that erodes their sense of self or relentless micromanagement that turns daily life into a minefield. It may include manipulation, stalking, physical or sexual violence, threats or calculated punishment—but it doesn’t have to include all of these to be effective. Many survivors are controlled without ever being hit.

For survivors, naming this pattern can be clarifying, even liberating—it helps make sense of dynamics that feel confusing or hard to explain. For advocates and professionals, the framework of coercive control brings the full picture into focus. It reminds us to look beyond visible injuries or discrete incidents and instead see the ongoing system of control that shapes a survivor’s reality. Without this lens, we risk overlooking the very tactics that keep someone trapped.

In the chart below, Biderman’s Chart of Coercion is adapted to the tactics of domestic abusers. This chart illustrates how abusers entrap domestic violence victims. It can be used across mental health, advocacy, educational and legal settings.

Click to enlarge or download. Scroll to see the entire chart.