Psychological abuse
Psychological abuse, also known as emotional abuse, encompasses harmful behaviors that target an individual's mental well-being rather than their physical state. This form of abuse can be subtle and insidious, often involving tactics like verbal insults, ridicule, and manipulation, which aim to undermine the victim's self-worth and trust in themselves and others. While it can be more challenging to recognize than physical or sexual abuse, psychological abuse is believed to be prevalent and can have deeply damaging effects on victims, including low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.
Victims of psychological abuse can include anyone, but women, children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities are frequently identified as particularly vulnerable. The patterns of abuse often manifest through controlling behaviors, belittling comments, and emotional neglect, which may leave victims questioning their reality, especially in cases of gaslighting. The long-term consequences of psychological abuse can be profound, impacting mental health and social development, and potentially perpetuating cycles of abuse in future relationships.
Recognition and intervention are crucial, and individuals experiencing psychological abuse are encouraged to seek support from professionals such as medical practitioners, clergy, or abuse hotlines. Understanding that psychological abuse is a serious issue is vital in fostering awareness and encouraging individuals to take action for their well-being.
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Psychological abuse
Psychological abuse, or emotional abuse, is abuse that is aimed at the mind instead of the body. Using words, actions, and gestures, the abuser attacks the victim’s sense of self-worth, erodes the victim’s ability to trust, and diminishes the victim’s confidence. Threats, criticisms, and name-calling are all examples of psychological abuse. Although it can be more difficult to identify, psychological abuse is thought to be more common than physical and sexual abuse but equally as damaging. Anyone can be the victim of psychological abuse, but researchers say women, children, the elderly, and the disabled are the most frequent targets of this form of abuse.
Signs
Psychological or emotional abuse can occur in any relationship. The ways it is inflicted may vary, but it always involves the abuser attempting to control the victim by diminishing their feeling of worthiness. Some signs of psychological abuse include
- using sarcasm, criticisms, and demeaning comments to put down the victim in front of friends and family or in private;
- name-calling;
- excessively controlling the behaviors, relationships, and/or spending of the victim;
- trivializing the victim’s accomplishments, plans, or favorite activities;
- making negative comments about the victim’s appearance;
- reminding the victim of past mistakes;
- blaming the victim for the mistakes or unhappiness of the abuser;
- and withholding emotional support and affection, especially as a means of controlling the victim’s behavior.
The emotional abuse of children can also include lack of affection for the child and withholding attention beyond meeting the child’s basic needs. For example, leaving a baby in a crib all day except for feedings and changings would be considered psychological abuse. Threatening to abandon or hurt the child—even if it never happens—and allowing the child to witness violence and abuse in the home also constitute emotional child abuse.
The elderly and disabled people are also subject to emotional abuse and may be especially vulnerable to threats that result in the exploitation of their finances—for example, being told they will be put out of their homes unless they sign over their bank accounts.
Patterns
Although many people occasionally say hurtful things when they are angry or upset, psychological abuse goes beyond this. It is a pattern of chronic behavior that wears the victim down. However, because psychological abuse often leaves little evidence, it can be hard for even professionals to detect it.
In some cases, victims may not even realize that they are being abused. Adults who were raised in abusive homes may assume such behavior is normal. Victims may also have had their self-confidence and sense of self-worth attacked to the point where they think they are at fault and have given their abuser a reason to treat them poorly. The religious and social expectations of some cultures can reinforce this way of thinking, perpetuating the behaviors of the abuser and the acceptance of the abused.
One particular form of abuse that usually occurs in dating or married relationships is referred to as gaslighting. The name comes from a 1938 play and 1944 movie, titled Gaslight, in which a husband repeatedly turns down the gaslights but tells his wife they are unchanged. This and other behaviors make the wife doubt her perception of reality. In a gaslighting relationship, the abuser will make the abused doubt their sanity through denial ("I never said that."), ignoring ("I’m not listening to this nonsense again."), deflecting ("You’re imagining things."), or trivializing ("You’re too sensitive."). In time, the victim questions their sanity and begins to accept the abuser’s view of the situation.
Effects
Even though psychological abuse leaves no physical signs, it can create emotional wounds that last a long time. Some people who have experienced both physical and psychological abuse say it is harder to recover from the psychological abuse.
People affected by psychological abuse often suffer from low self-esteem. They are more likely to take the abuse to heart and accept blame for it, creating feelings of inadequacy. Psychological abuse can also cause nervousness and anxiety, which can lead to poor sleeping and eating habits. These, in turn, can lead to problems such as high blood pressure, obesity, and other physical ailments. Depression is another frequent result of abuse.
Children raised in emotionally abusive homes may have all these problems along with issues related to cognitive and social development. An emotional need for control generated by the abuse and a lack of positive relationship role models can make these people more inclined to become abusers or to enter into relationships with abusive partners.
In 2015, in an effort to use the power of law enforcement to prevent psychological abuse, England's government made "coercive control" a criminal offense as part of sweeping domestic abuse laws. Though the law included clear definitions of what constituted such coercive and controlling behavior, such as acts or continuous acts that are designed to intimidate, humiliate, or threaten another person (with specific mentions of attempts to regulate someone else's behavior or finances, isolate them, or force them into a state of dependence).
Help
Individuals who suspect that they are in emotionally abusive relationships should reach out for help. Experts agree that emotional abuse causes significant psychological damage to its victims, and it should not be ignored just because there is no physical harm. Medical professionals, clergy members, and law enforcement personnel are all possible sources of help, as are local and national abuse hotlines.
Bibliography
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