Imagine that the Power and Control Wheel represents the entire system of battering. At the hub is the batterer's need to get and keep power and control over his or her partner's life. Each spoke of the wheel represents one of the tactics that may be used to control her. The rim of physical and sexual violence surrounds and supports the spokes. It holds the system together and gives it strength.
Physical violence causes pain and injury.
It may cause death. It may involve pushing, shoving, hitting, slapping, beating with fists or objects, throwing a person down, running her over with a car, twisting arms, biting, stabbing and other use of weapons. Sexual abuse is an attack on one's body and soul. It is a way to debase and degrade another person, by forcing her to engage in sexual acts against her will, or by humiliating her by making her into an object. Sexual abuse is the ultimate act of taking control of another's body and spirit.