Withholding and Countering - Power and Control in Emotionally Abusive Relationships
In the beginning of the relationship, the man was quite engaged with his new partner. Asking her about her day, sharing entertaining information about his self, and communicating future plans. However, about four or six months later, he became withdrawn. He didn’t offer any information without being asked and even then, he seemed visibly irritated when his lover questioned him about anything. The woman became increasingly frustrated and tried doing more to get him to talk such as: perform acts of service, buy gifts, shower with kind words, etc., but to no avail, the man became more closed off about himself with each passing day. This is the beginning of an emotionally abusive relationship, a partner is deliberately withholding emotion, conversation and any other response that helps build a stable intimate relationship. In time, there is no open or honest communication coming from the abusive one. Questions are answered with yes, no or silence. Most of the time with