Emotional Abuse

[DuctTapeJedi]

So, I've been thinking about my childhood, and it got me thinking about the nature of emotional and mental abuse. (Badum-Tsh!)

Anyway, what do you think constitutes as abusive treatment of a child? Is it more serious than physical abuse? What are your thoughts, in general?

Mostly, what exactly qualifies as abuse?

 

[DuctTapeJedi]

Oh, and since this is potentially a really depressing topic:

Spoiler: Break in case of sadness

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

You're welcome.

 

[KiKiweaky]

I dunno I've never been on the receiving end of it, but I suppose making them feel worthless or gutting a childs self esteem could be rather damaging.

 

[DiMono]

Physical abuse heals, mental abuse has long-lasting effects. Mental abuse is definitely worse IMO.

 

[JoJo]

I've done a training session on this for voluntary work and any type of abuse; whether it be physical, sexual, emotional or neglect, can have serious effects for the reciever in later life.

If a child is being constantly put down, told that their worthless, told that they aren't loved... that is emotional abuse. If OP has suffered this in the past then all I can offer is my sympathy.

 

[Wewt]

Are you implying that physical abuse doesn't have an emotional effect?

 

[BreakfastMan]

What constitutes abuse... That is a tough one. I would think it would have to do something with yelling at the child, telling them they are crap and will not amount to anything, with holding love, and things like that. So many problems with people could be solved if their parents told them that they loved them once in a while. I know it would have changed my parents lives. As for whether or not it is more serious than physical abuse, I think it is not more serious. Both are very serious things, and I do not think that either one is a more serious problem than the other.

 

[CManator]

Physical abuse can lead to aggressive behavior, Mental/Emotional abuse can lead to self esteem issues. Can't say one is really worse than the other, but emotional abuse is often harder to recover from.

But not disciplining kids has its own set of problems. Not many parents know how to find that middle ground, and I often wonder if I will be able to when I have kids.

 

[DuctTapeJedi]

Not sure what happened here, double post issues.

IGNORE ME!

 

[dragonofparadise]

Are you implying that physical abuse doesn't have an emotional effect?

it always does.
all abuse whether it be emotional, physical or sexual,
is bad all around

and ok... PUPPIES!!!

 

[natster43]

Well anything that belittles, makes a child feel like they have no sense of worth or makes them feel unloved would be considered emotional and/or mental abuse, while anything that seriously harms the child physically would be considered physical abuse. And depending on what it is it can be worse than physical abuse. Really anyone who abuses a child in anyway is a terrible person and shouldn't be allowed near them.

 

[are.you.the.god.its.me.vader]

It's interesting to see what kind of effects a divorce can have on an impressionable kid (or kids), especially when the kid(s) reaches maturity.

My parents split when I was 6 and I was raised by my mum for 10 years without a massive father figure, I've kinda got used to the company of women without being too campy about it. I've always wondered what it'd be like if I'd lived with my dad (probably the opposite of my mum, but with a ***** of a stepmum).

What I did get everytime I lied, Mum used to scream going "You're a liar just like your father!!". Which was a bit hurtful to both parties, but meh.

Sure, it's not exactly "emotional abuse" but it's interesting nonetheless.

 

[DuctTapeJedi]

So many problems with people could be solved if their parents told them that they loved them once in a while.

But sometimes that just adds confusion to the situation. Like telling the kid you love them occassionally, and then referring to them only as "it," and screaming at them to shut up when they sneezed or coughed. (It made flu season... "interesting.")

 

[Wewt]

Are you implying that physical abuse doesn't have an emotional effect?

it always does.
all abuse whether it be emotional, physical or sexual,
is bad all around

and ok... PUPPIES!!!

Actually I misunderstood, I assumed that the OP meant the effect, not the means of abuse.

 

[BreakfastMan]

So many problems with people could be solved if their parents told them that they loved them once in a while.

But sometimes that just adds confusion to the situation. Like telling the kid you love them occassionally, and then referring to them only as "it," and screaming at them to shut up when they sneezed or coughed. (It made flu season... "interesting.")

I am sensing some unresolved parenting issues here. But I understand what you are saying. I think the parent actually has to mean what they say when they say to their child that they love them. I think if the parent actually meant it when they said it, they will greatly effect their child's life.

 

[Jamboxdotcom]

i'd like to point out that while "physical" abuse can be less damaging long-term, that's not the case if it's sexual abuse. that's because sexual abuse does its damage primarily mentally. i've seen too many examples of that in my life, which is why i take such a hard line on things like rape and child molestation. my own step-sister was molested by my father when she was 12. she is literally certifiable now.

otherwise, i agree that emotional abuse is worse than being beaten up. i've known people who are really f***ed up from being belittled and demeaned by their parents as children, whereas most of the people i've known who were just knocked around actually grew up to be stronger people than the average. (not to say it was a good thing, but they were able to make the best of it.)

 

[CarpathianMuffin]

To me, abusive treatment of a child means something that's pretty much counterproductive to letting them mature properly.