Child Psychological/Emotional Abuse
Emotional or psychological abuse of a child harms self-worth and well-being. It consists of words or actions that convey that the child is worthless, unloved, unwanted, or endangered. Just as with physical or sexual abuse, psychological abuse results in toxic stress that can have severe negative impacts on both physical and emotional health. Examples of psychological abuse include, but are not limited to:
1. Scorn: Humiliation, ridicule, chronic criticism, and insults. This may also include name-calling and swearing.
2. Terrorism: Threatening physical violence to the child or someone/something the child cares about. Terrorism also includes placing the child in dangerous or chaotic situations.
3. Isolation: Limiting opportunities for socialization, such as not allowing them to have friends or interact with other loved ones.
4. Corruption/Exploitation: Promoting anti-social or inappropriate behavior, such as coercion into sexual activities or forcing the child to act as a servant.
5. Neglect: Persistently ignoring the child, being absent, or not showing any emotions during interactions with the child. This may also include not showing affection or not calling the child by their name.
6. Manipulation: gaslighting, guilt-tripping, or blaming the child for the abuse.
7. Exposure to domestic violence, drug use, or alcoholism.
8. Sleep deprivation: adults and adolescents need at least 7-8 hours of sleep, and younger children require even more.
References:
1. Fast facts: Preventing Child Abuse & Neglect | Violence Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2022 [cited 2023 Jul 30]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/childabuseandneglect/fastfact.html
2. Gluck, S. (2021, December 17). What is Psychological Abuse of a Child? HealthyPlace; 2022 [cited 2023 Jul 30]. Available from: https://www.healthyplace.com/abuse/child-psychological-abuse/what-is-psychological-abuse-of-a-child
3. Emotional abuse. NSPCC; [cited 2023 Jul 30]. Available from: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/emotional-abuse/
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