Domestic abuse is about power and control, not ordinary relationship conflict – ARK Foundation

She said abuse was fundamentally about one person using a pattern of controlling, coercive and harmful behaviour to gain and maintain power over another, rather than simply two people disagreeing.

Dr Dwamena-Aboagye explained that domestic abuse involves a pattern of behaviour through which an individual seeks to control another person and maintain dominance in a relationship.

She said understanding these influences was important because cultural beliefs can shape how people view relationships, including whether they believe one partner has the right to dominate or control the other.