Isolation to facilitate abuse

{{Short description|Abuse tactic}}{{Duplication|date=February 2024|dupe=Sexual grooming}}

Isolation (physical, social or emotional) is often used to facilitate power and control over someone for an abusive purpose. This applies in many contexts such as workplace bullying,Rayner C, Hoel H, Cooper CL Workplace Bullying: What we know, who is to blame and what can we do? (2001)Peyton PR Dignity at Work: Eliminate Bullying and Create a Positive Working Environment (2003) elder abuse,{{cite web|url=http://www.canhr.org/factsheets/abuse_fs/html/fs_elderabuse.htm |title=What is Elder Abuse? |publisher=CANHR |date=2016-04-26 |access-date=2016-10-01}}{{cite book|url=https://www.nap.edu/read/10406/chapter/14 |title=Appendix B: Analysis of Elder Abuse and Neglect Definitions Under State Law | Elder Mistreatment: Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation in an Aging America | The National Academies Press |doi=10.17226/10406 |pmid=22812026 |publisher=Nap.edu |access-date=2016-10-01|year=2003 |isbn=978-0-309-08434-5 |author1=National Research Council (US) Panel to Review Risk Prevalence of Elder Abuse Neglect |last2=Bonnie |first2=R. J. |last3=Wallace |first3=R. B. }} domestic abuse,{{cite web|url=https://sapac.umich.edu/article/59 |title=Intimate Partner Violence and Common Tactics Used by Abusive Partners | Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center |publisher=Sapac.umich.edu |date=1999-02-22 |access-date=2016-10-01}}Perspectives on Verbal and Psychological Abuse, ed. Dr. Roland Maiuro, PhD, pub. 1989 child abuse,{{cite journal |vauthors=Elliott GC, Cunningham SM, Linder M, Colangelo M, Gross M |title=Child physical abuse and self-perceived social isolation among adolescents |journal=Journal of Interpersonal Violence |volume=20 |issue=12 |pages=1663–84 |year=2005 |pmid=16246923 |doi=10.1177/0886260505281439 |s2cid=27544550 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/child-abuse-and-neglect/emotional-abuse/ |title=Emotional abuse |publisher=NSPCC |access-date=2016-10-01}} and cults.{{cite web|url=http://cultinformation.org.uk/article_caring-for-cult-victims.html |title=Cult Information Centre: Caring for Cult Victims |publisher=Cultinformation.org.uk |access-date=2016-10-01}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cultwatch.com/howcultswork.html |title=How Cults Work |publisher=Cultwatch |access-date=2016-10-01}}

Isolation reduces the opportunity of the abused to be rescued or escape from the abuse. It also helps disorient the abused and makes the abused more dependent on the abuser. The degree of power and control over the abused is contingent upon the degree of their physical or emotional isolation.{{cite web|url=http://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P3883.html |title=The Theory and Practice of Blackmail |publisher=RAND |date=1959-03-10 |access-date=2016-10-01|last1=Ellsberg |first1=Daniel }}{{cite web|author=Ryan Richard Thoreson |url=https://www.outrightinternational.org/content/blackmail-and-extortion-lgbt-people-sub-saharan-africa |title=Blackmail and Extortion of LGBT People in Sub-Saharan Africa | OutRight |publisher=Outrightinternational.org |date=2010-06-02 |access-date=2016-10-01}}

Isolation of the victim from the outside world is an important element of psychological control.[http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/85239/1/9789241564625_eng.pdf Global and regional estimates of violence against women: prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence.] World Health Organization. 2013. {{ISBN|978-92-4-156462-5}}. p. 7. Isolation includes controlling a person's social activity: whom they see, whom they talk to, where they go and any other method to limit their access to others. It may also include limiting what material they can read or watch.[http://www.theduluthmodel.org/pdf/PowerandControl.pdf Power and Control.] Duluth Model. Retrieved April 19, 2014. It can also include insisting on knowing where they are and requiring permission for medical care. The abuser exhibits hypersensitive and reactive jealousy.

Isolation can be aided by:

• economic abuse thus limiting the victim's actions as they may then lack the necessary resources to resist or escape from the abuse[http://wdachoices.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/WDAH_flipchart_money_wheel.pdf Economic abuse wheel]
• smearing or discrediting the abused amongst their community so the abused does not get help or support from othersBailey-Rug C (2016) It's Not You, It's Them: When People Are More Than SelfishJoseph Burgo (2016) The Narcissist You Know: Defending Yourself Against Extreme Narcissists in an All-About-Me Age
• divide and conquerHall J [http://narcissistfamilyfiles.com/2017/03/27/its-you-and-me-baby-narcissist-head-games/ It’s You and Me Baby: Narcissist Head Games] The Narcissist Family Files 27 Mar 2017