Threats can be the most powerful tool used in an abusive relationship. Those who use threats rely on the fact that how you imagine something happening can be even worse in your own head than it may be in reality. It is a tool of control. The actual consequence that is being threatened is less effective once it has been used. This is why some abusers may rely on threats without actually following through (although not always). They know you better than anyone else, they know your vulnerabilities and insecurities (everyone has them), and they will use these in the design of their threats. Just because someone has never followed through on their threats doesn’t mean that they never would out of respect for you. It isn’t in their interests to realise the threat, because when they do this they lose some of their power over you. The new Domestic Abuse legislation in Scotland is designed to make it easier to prosecute a partner who uses threats against you.
Threats can take many forms, and will be personal to the victim. They may include:
Do you:
