Child and Teen Emotional Abuse

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Comment by Mariana on December 8, 2008 at 7:35pm

Emotional abuse is a pattern of behavior that attacks a child's emotional development and sense of self-worth. Emotional abuse includes excessive, aggressive or unreasonable demands that place expectations on a child beyond his or her capacity. Constant criticizing, belittling, insulting, rejecting and teasing are some of the forms these verbal attacks can take. Emotional abuse also includes failure to provide the psychological nurturing necessary for a child's psychological growth and development -- providing no love, support or guidance (National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse, 1987).

Observable Indicators

child rocks, sucks, bites self
inappropriately aggressive,
destructive to others
suffers from sleep, speech disorders
restricts play activities or experiences
demonstrates compulsions, obsessions, phobias, hysterical outbursts

Behavioral Indicators in Child

negative statements about self
shy, passive, compliant
lags in physical, mental and emotional development
self destructive behavior
highly aggressive
cruel to others
overly demanding

Family or Parental Indicators

blames or puts down child
is cold and rejecting
indifferent to child's problems or welfare
withholds affection
shows preferential treatment when there is more than one child in the family

NOTE Again, any one of these indicators could be attributable to a specific life event or other trauma. A pattern of behavior is the strongest indicator of abuse and should not be ignored.

Source: http://www.safechild.org/childabuse3.htm

Comment by Mariana on December 8, 2008 at 7:33pm

Even when a man or a woman is a real victim of abuse by his or her partner, they also become unintentional second-hand abusers of their children when they expose them to unhealthy relationships at home. Even if children are not the target of verbal, physical or emotional abuse, being exposed to the fights between their parents, or witnessing one parent humilliating, degrading or belittling the other parent, that is -per se- a kind of emotional abuse we need to become aware of, and therefore, avoid.

Comment by Administrator on December 8, 2008 at 4:34am

More useful links and websites:
http://www.covenanthouse.org/
http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/families/family_abuse.html
http://childabuse.stanford.edu/screening/teens.html