Wilde emphasizes that control is always the goal behind abusive tactics. Usually the categories overlap and coexist within a relationship. Physical abuse controls a victim through pinching, slapping, hitting, shoving, punching, restraining or grabbing. Like sexual abuse, it quickly controls the victim, and denies the victim power over their own body. Because of differences in strength and size, women are usually the targets of physical abuse.
Emotional abuse is by far the broadest category.
It's also the abuse tactic used most in teen dating relations. Canada's 1993 Violence Against Women report cites rejection, digression, terrorization, isolation, corruption and exploitation as forms of emotional abuse. Jealousy is often a huge factor in emotional abuse, says Wilde. According to Domestic Violence Inc., abusers may sabotage their partner's support network by forbidding contact with others or threatening punishment. This increases feelings of isolation, vulnerability and separation in the victim.