One of the biggest advancements in the field of domestic violence intervention, is the development of the Duluth Model and the Power and Control Wheels. The Wheels, as they are called, are a way of understanding the structure of violent relationships. They were originally developed by doing many focus groups with people who had been victimized by domestic violence. At the center of violent relationships is a person who seeks Power and Control. Radiating out from that center are many forms of verbal and emotional abuse. Finally radiating out further to the most violent categories are acts of physical and sexual abuse.
The original Wheel research centered around violent, heterosexual relationships in which the male is the perpetrator, but since then many Wheels have been developed, and hopefully even more will be forthcoming. Two of the later Wheels that were developed include the Abuse of Children and Nurturing Children Wheel. In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, we wanted to provide the links to these wheels so that we as parents can educate ourselves on some ways to center our parenting style around nurturing and love rather than power and control.
Using Children Post Separation Wheel
Original Power and Control Wheel
Other Wheels including SPANISH Versions
Video explanation of Power and Control Wheel:
If you know of a child who is being abused, or need help because of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual assault or stalking, please call Oklahoma’s hotline: 1-800-522-SAFE (7233) or the National hotline: 1-800-799-7233.
Click here for information on checking your tech if the violent person in your life monitors your phone, computer, etc.
