The outside of the power and control wheel contains the cement of the abusive relationship: the threat of or actual use of which violence types?

• A. Verbal/psychological
• B. Physical/sexual
• C. Economic
• D. Spiritual

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that abuse patterns are held together by threats or actual acts of violence. Physical or sexual violence stands out as the cement because it represents the most direct, tangible harm and danger. The threat of being harmed or the actual injury itself creates fear, curbs resistance, and makes it incredibly hard for the abused person to challenge the abuser or leave. While verbal/psychological, economic, and spiritual abuse are important tools that support control, they rely on the presence of physical or sexual violence to maintain the coercive dynamic. So, the outside category is physical/sexual violence because of its immediate impact and its role in sustaining the power and control in the relationship.