What is violence in close relationships?
Violence in close relationships is when a person becomes the victim of abuse from a person who is or has been close to them, and the relationship has been intimate and based upon trust.
A perpetrator may be a partner, parent, sibling, child, grandchild or other family member.
Both men and women can be the victim of violence in close relationships, however women are more affected than men. Men are over-represented among those who are abusive towards women and other men.
Different forms of violence
There are different forms of violence, not all violence leaves marks that are visible. The abuse can be physical, sexual, psychological, financial, and material.
Physical violence
Physical violence refers to all violence directed at the body, such as punching, pushing, kicking or strangle holds.
Sexual violence
Sexual violence involves attacks and victimisation of a sexual nature. This can include unwelcome touching, forced sexual actions, rape or other sexual violation. This could also include a person being photographed or filmed against their will during a sexual activity.
Psychological violence
Psychological violence can be threats of violence or threats of sexual abuse, it can involve verbal abuse, isolation, emotional blackmail, shaming or stalking. It can also include a perpetrator threatening to harm a child, pet or close friend.
It also involves situations where someone exerts control over the person, such as who they should spend time with, or restricts their daily life.
Material violence
Material violence is about the perpetrator destroying or deciding over certain material assets that the person needs in their everyday life, such as a mobile phone or car. It can also be about vandalism or threats of vandalism of the partner's or close relative's possessions and belongings. Violence against pets also constitutes material abuse.
Economic violence
Economic violence is often about the perpetrator taking control of money or other assets. This increases the victim's isolation making it more difficult for them to leave the relationship.
It can also be that the person is forced to bear all costs or loans and thus becomes indebted.
Latent violence
Latent violence is about bound aggression or a strong anger that is visible through a person's posture or body expression and that is perceived as threatening and creates fear of violent consequences.
Digital violence
Digital violence is perpetrated online, on the phone or on various social platforms. Can be threatening emails or text messages, spreading rumours via social media.
It can also be about private photos being spread online or hijacking someone's social media account.
Digital violence can be perpetrated by someone you know or have a relationship with, but it can also occur where completely unknown people commit these abuses.
Read more about exposure to violence at the Swedish Gender Equality Agency.