Both mental and emotional abuse are forms of psychological abuse. Psychological abuse is particularly damaging to children, because their psyches are fragile and their identities undeveloped. The psychological abuse of a child can inflict long-term consequences on its victim that extend well into adulthood and are as harmful as physical abuse.
Definition
Psychological abuse is normally not an isolated instance, but rather a pattern of poisonous interactions between an adult, usually a parent, and a child. It is defined by its effects; abusive behavior results in the child feeling unloved, worthless, defective, unwanted, exploited or endangered, according to Steven W. Kairys and Charles F. Johnson of the Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect. It can take the form of verbal abuse, neglect, the withholding of affection, or actions that terrorize or demoralize the child.
Risk Factors
Certain types of people and certain types of situations make child psychological abuse more likely to occur. Children who are unwanted due to an unplanned pregnancy, or who are physically or emotionally handicapped are more likely to suffer abuse than other children. In some cases, abusive parents lack parenting skills. An authoritarian parenting style is strongly associated with abuse. Other risk factors in caregivers include substance abuse and mental illness. Dysfunctional family relationships and contentious divorces also trigger abusive patterns.
Rate
Experts differ on the rate of child psychological abuse in the general population. A study by the National Center of Child Abuse and Neglect concluded that the rate of child psychological abuse is only 6.1 percent. In contrast, a study at Florida State University led by psychology professor Natalie Sachs-Ericsson, focusing on verbal abuse, reported a rate of almost 30 percent. It is significant, however, that the Florida State Study reported even occasional instances of verbal abuse that might not constitute a long-term pattern of abuse.
Long-Term Effects
Childhood psychological abuse can have strong effects on the adult personalities of its victims. Victims of verbal abuse often grow up to be excessively self-critical. Psychological abuse may also cause anxiety and depression. Low self-esteem in victims is common, as well as dangerous conditions such as bulimia, anorexia, substance abuse and suicidal tendencies.
Treatment
Sachs-Ericsson believes that many victims of child psychological abuse can be helped with cognitive behavioral therapy because so many victims are excessively self-critical. Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches people to monitor their own self-critical thoughts and then examine them to see if they are realistic or not. When they are found to be unrealistic, more realistic and sympathetic thoughts are inserted to replace them. This process can lead to a change of attitudes followed by beneficial changes in behavior.
