Beyond High Conflict

GGS-002

GLOBAL GOVERNANCE SERIES™

Beyond High Conflict

A Comparative Analysis of Domestic Abuse, Coercive Control, Family Court Decision-Making and Post-Separation Harm

Samantha Avril-Andreassen, LLB (Hons), LLM, LPC, FRSA

Founder, SAFECHAIN™

Governance Analyst | Systems Reform Specialist | Safeguarding Framework Developer

ABSTRACT

Domestic abuse increasingly extends beyond physical violence to include coercive control, economic abuse, psychological abuse, post-separation abuse, and behavioural manipulation. Across multiple jurisdictions, researchers, practitioners, survivors, and public inquiries have raised recurring concerns regarding the capacity of family justice systems to distinguish coercive control from ordinary parental conflict, recognise cumulative patterns of abuse, and safeguard vulnerable adults and children consistently.

This paper examines recurring governance themes emerging across comparative family justice systems. It explores behavioural mechanisms used by coercive controllers, institutional recognition challenges, welfare assessment limitations, and the implementation gap between domestic abuse legislation and family court practice. The paper argues that future reform requires stronger institutional capability in behavioural recognition, participation, safeguarding, and cross-agency information integration rather than legislative reform alone.

1. Introduction

Domestic abuse is increasingly recognised as a pattern of behaviour rather than a series of isolated incidents.

Many jurisdictions now recognise:

• coercive control

• economic abuse

• psychological abuse

• stalking

• post-separation abuse

Despite legislative developments, significant concerns remain regarding implementation within family justice systems.

2. Research Questions

This paper considers:

• Why do family courts continue to struggle with coercive control?

• Why are behavioural patterns frequently interpreted as parental conflict?

• How does post-separation abuse continue through legal processes?

• What governance reforms may improve institutional capability?

3. Methodology

This paper adopts a comparative governance methodology drawing upon:

• legislation

• judicial decisions

• public inquiries

• inspectorate reports

• domestic homicide reviews

• safeguarding reviews

• academic literature

• comparative family justice research

The objective is to identify recurring institutional themes rather than evaluate individual cases.

4. Understanding Coercive Control

Definitions.

Behavioural characteristics.

Psychological mechanisms.

Economic abuse.

Isolation.

Surveillance.

Intimidation.

Behavioural regulation.

5. Coaching

How children may be influenced through repeated messaging, selective information, reward structures, fear, loyalty conflicts, and dependency.

The distinction between legitimate safeguarding concerns and inappropriate influence requires careful, evidence-based assessment.

6. Manipulation and Conditioning

Behavioural reinforcement.

Intermittent reward.

Gaslighting.

Reality distortion.

Emotional dependency.

Normalisation.

Trauma bonding.

7. Creation of Fear and Division

Fear as a behavioural control mechanism.

Social isolation.

Family fragmentation.

Institutional distrust.

Silencing.

Escalation.

8. Exploiting Authority

The strategic use of:

• legal proceedings

• financial resources

• professional status

• institutional credibility

• procedural complexity

• repeated applications

• disclosure asymmetry

Power itself may become part of the abuse dynamic.

9. Undermining the Protective Parent

How abusive behaviour may seek to undermine credibility through:

• reputational attacks

• financial pressure

• procedural exhaustion

• accusations

• manipulation of children's perceptions

Assessment requires distinguishing evidence-based safeguarding concerns from unsupported allegations.

10. Family Court Recognition Challenges

Incident-based assessment.

Pattern recognition.

Behavioural evidence.

Trauma.

Participation.

Professional training.

Resource pressures.

11. Welfare Assessments

Current assessment models.

Strengths.

Limitations.

Behavioural interpretation.

Recognition deficits.

Cross-agency information.

12. Post-Separation Abuse

The continuation of coercive control through:

• litigation

• parenting arrangements

• financial control

• housing

• communication

• digital technology

13. Comparative Governance Analysis

Recurring themes across:

United Kingdom

Australia

Canada

United States

Brazil

South Africa

Zimbabwe

Kenya

Nigeria

European jurisdictions

14. Discussion

The implementation gap.

Recognition capability.

Institutional learning.

Behavioural intelligence.

Participation integrity.

Governance.

15. SAFECHAIN™ Framework Implications

Recognition Intelligence™

Participation Integrity™

Vulnerability Intelligence™

Continuity Intelligence™

Disclosure Integrity™

Behavioural Pattern Analysis™

Institutional Capability Assessment™

16. Conclusion

Family justice systems throughout the world increasingly face similar implementation challenges.

The future of reform is unlikely to depend solely upon additional legislation.

It will depend upon institutional capability to recognise coercive control, identify behavioural patterns, understand trauma, support meaningful participation, integrate information, and translate safeguarding principles into consistent protection.

Keywords

Domestic abuse; coercive control; post-separation abuse; family courts; safeguarding; governance; behavioural analysis; child welfare; comparative law; participation; implementation; SAFECHAIN™.

© 2026 Samantha Avril-Andreassen. All rights reserved.

SAFECHAINN Ltd (Company No. 12038453)

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