When care becomes control

Clinical psychologist Deborah Lee Riviears warned that domestic abuse can begin as seemingly caring behavior that gradually shifts into constant monitoring and manipulation. During an ALTOS interview on October 16, Riviears, the clinical lead at the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s Victim and Witness Support Unit, explained that controlling actions often emerge slowly during the early stages of a relationship.

Riviears noted that a partner may initially appear concerned for a person's safety, but this can evolve into demanding information through 30 or 40 messages a day or checking electronic devices. She stated that abusers may attempt to dominate who a person speaks to or where they go, often using guilt to isolate individuals from friends and family rather than using outright prohibitions. Riviears emphasized that both men and women can experience domestic violence and highlighted the importance of recognizing these warning signs and finding support when leaving a relationship becomes difficult.