Because relationships exist on a spectrum, it can be hard to tell when a behavior crosses the line from healthy to unhealthy or even abusive.Unfortunately, many of us will become victims to psychological manipulation at some point in our dating life.

Just Say YES speakers are dedicated to reducing these numbers through presenting ways of effectively addressing boundaries in dating, refusal skills, and establishing a positive circle of friends.They usually keep track of all of the victim’s actions and conversations.Young teens often do not realize that this kind of control is abusive.Abusers can be male or female, and experts are seeing these patterns of behavior in younger and younger students as pre-teens and elementary students engage in dating relationships before developing healthy relationship skills and boundaries.Abuse occurs in-person as well as through cyberbullying and cyber-control.Read our article “It’s a teen issue” to learn more about what Teen Dating Violence looks like.Just Say YES provides programs that not only present the dangerous facts about teen dating violence, but take one step further to equip students to make better decisions.They feel flattered that the abuser wants them all to himself and don’t realize until later the psychological damage inflicted by this behavior.It’s usually necessary for friends or family to point out to the victim that the relationship is not healthy. This can come through aggressive behavior, such as punching a wall, or maintaining a threatening proximity to the victim.Physical harm caused to a victim’s person or property.This includes hitting, slapping, shoving, kicking, hair pulling, biting, throwing things, choking, and any use of a weapon against a victim.Women between the ages of 16 and 24 are at greatest risk of becoming teen dating abuse victims.Dating violence is defined as a pattern of controlling or abusive behaviors perpetrated by a current or former dating partner.Any sexual contact that is not 100% consensual, including any type of pressure or coercion that leads to sexual activity, oral sex, touching or kissing that is unwanted by the victim.This also includes sexual contact with a partner who is intoxicated or drugged and unable to give clear and informed consent.