Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships

Characteristics of a Healthy Relationship:

· Decisions are made jointly, with input from each partner
· Freedom to decide issues of work, school or money
· Neither partner restricts the other to gender roles
· Each partner respects the other's sexual values
· Each partner accepts "no" and does not enforce sexual demands
· Physical force is never used to subordinate one to the other's will
· Each partner's opinion is valued
· Each supports the other partner's goals

Characteristics of an Unhealthy Relationship:

· Jealousy-Abusers will say jealousy is a sign of love
· Controlling Behavior-Abuser might try to govern where you go, what you wear, etc.
· Cruelty to Animals or Children-Abusers will punish animals brutally and will have extremely high expectations of children.
· Verbal Abuse-Abuser degrades the other person
· Past Battering-Abuser may say he/she has hit another
· Threats of Violence-Threats of physical force are often a precursor to future violence