Nonphysical action or failure to act that damages a child's behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or physical functioning. (241)
Acts of commission or omission on a child by a parent or parent substitute that result in emotional harm to the child
Emotional attacks or omissions that cause, or could cause, serious emotional injury. This could include behaviour of parents or guardians who persistently do not take an interest in their child. For example, not talking to or hugging their child, and being chronically emotionally unavailable to their child. This could also include repeated threats, confinement, repeated exposure to violence, ongoing humiliation and ridicule, and fundamental attacks on a child=s sense of self.
may include constant screaming at the child, calling him or her foul names, giving constant criticism and putdowns, making fun, constantly comparing the child with siblings, ignoring the child, and refusing to talk or listen to him/her.
is nonphysical mistreatment, resulting in disturbed behavior by the child, such as severe withdrawal or hyperactivity. Emotional abuse includes willfully causing any child to suffer, inflicting mental suffering, or endangering a child's emotional well-being.
Sustained and repeated responses to the child or the child's behaviour which are so negative, inconsistent, rejecting or inappropriate that the child has serious difficulties in emotional, social or behavioural development.
Belittling, humiliating, rejecting, undermining a child's self-esteem, and generally not [conducive to] creating a positive atmosphere for a child (Cohen, 1992)
Subversive manipulation of the mind and feelings of the abused partner.
Emotional abuse refers to a long-term situation in which one person uses his or her power or influence to adversely affect the mental well-being of another. Emotional abuse can appear in a variety of forms, including rejection, degradation, isolation, corruption, exploitation, and invoking terror.