“Parental verbal abuse may wound children's psyches so deeply that the effects remain apparent in young adulthood. Such abuse may wreak psychological havoc greater than that caused by physical abuse.” (Arehart-Treichel, 2006, para. 1). Emotional abuse on children may have several long term effects which may either be physical, psychological or otherwise. These outcomes include poor mental health, educational disadvantage and disaffection, unemployment, poverty during adulthood, criminalization for anti-social behaviour or offending, as well as becoming victims of crime. Powell (2009) states that, “Children may also suffer a reduction in cognitive development and impediments to academic achievement. When parents allow their own parenting stress to influence how they react to or treat their children, they will only end up teaching them negative and destructive behaviors.” (para. 8).
“Emotional abuse is the most common form of abuse, yet the least talked about.” (Munro, 2001, para. 1). Emotional abuse almost always occurs with other forms of abuse but it is also the only abuse that can stand on its own, it does not have to accompany any of the other abuses. Emotional abuse is an attack on a child’s emotional and social development and takes many forms such as; verbal assault, neglect, isolation, mind control, terrorizing, exploiting/corrupting, among many others. If frequent enough, emotional abuse is usually internalized by the victim, and leaves them feeling fearful, insignificant, unworthy, untrusting, emotionally needy, undeserving and unlovable, and as if they were bad, deserving of punishment, and blame. The abuse may not sound like much, and often people around them will minimize the experience, telling them it's not so bad. But a climate of disregard for a person's feelings, where one is subjected to constant or frequent criticisms, being yelled at, or being ignored - has a deep and profound effect, attacking the very self-image and confidence of a person. Arguments from a psychological standpoint would see Bowlby (1969) as cited in Tomlinson and Tucci (1997) as saying, “Where a child experiences a warm, intimate and continuous relationship with her or his mother or other care-giver, that child would thrive. Conversely, an unresponsive parent, or one who responds inappropriately to a child's needs, would increase the likelihood of the child becoming anxious and insecure in its attachment.” (p. 1). This in essence is postulating that, if a parent inadvertently or deliberately engages in a pattern of inappropriate emotional responses, the child can be said to have experienced emotional abuse. Hence it is important to ensure that not only are the child’s economical and educational needs attended to; but also that a sense of nurturance is garnered.
In concluding, it may be seen where emotional abuse, however underplayed by researchers will significantly impede a child’s long term development. It should be understood that the pain that an individual feels or relives the most from being abused in childhood, is not the physical pain. What persists through his or her lifetime is the emotion that went along with the physical pain. Hence, in studying the other forms of abuse or when trying to treat them, special attention should be paid to the emotional aspect of the trauma. In an effort to reduce the instances of emotional child abuse, parenting programmes could be implemented, where some focus can be placed on emotional abuse; this would allow parents to better respond to stressful scenarios that might provoke an emotional onslaught.
References
American Humane Association. (2009). Emotional Abuse. Retrieved October 21, 2009 from
http://www.americanhumane.org/about-us/newsroom/fact-sheets/emotional-abuse.html
(The writer’s main argument in this article is that, a child being constantly ignored, shamed, terrorized and humiliated is more susceptible to impairments in development than a child who is physically abused.)
Arehart-Treichel, J. (2006, June). Parents’ Verbal Abuse Leaves Long-Term Legacy.
Psychiatric News , 4, 13, 28
(The author discusses the psychological issues verbal abuse has on children. She identified a case of and young woman who was smart, had a degree and was loads of very good job prospects. The author gave details about the way being verbally abused as a child still affected and scarred her.)
Bain, S. (2007). Dealing with Child Abuse & Neglect in Jamaica: A Child Care Manual for
Professionals & Paraprofessionals.
(This book explains ways of dealing with abuse and neglect in Jamaica. It is a guide for professionals and paraprofessionals in the field of child care.)
Child Development Agency. (2004). Child Care and Protection Act. Retrieved October 19, 2009
from http://www.cda.gov.jm/child_care_protection_act.php
(This website outlines the child care protection act and gives information on the types, signs and prvention of the various abuses.)
Dyson, C.(2008). Poverty and Child Maltreatment. Weston House: London
(The writer is of the opinion that children who grow up in poverty can be more vulnerable to some forms of maltreatment, particularly neglect and physical abuse. She also believes that they have an increased risk of adverse experiences and negative outcomes, both in the short and long term. A number of prevalence and incidence studies were also examined which highlight the link between poverty and child maltreatment.)
Glaser, D. (2002, June). Emotional Abuse and Neglect (Psychological Maltreatment):
A Conceptual Framework. Child Abuse & Neglect, 26, 697-714
(The author of this journal entry argues that emotional abuse is under-recognized. He states that there is difficulty defining emotional abuse. Hence, there are questions about intervention and therapy to protect the child in the detrimental situation.)
Munro, K. (2001). Emotional Abuse: The Most Common Form of Abuse. Retrieved
November 10, 2009 from http://www.kalimunro.com/article_emotional_abuse.html
(The article focuses on the underplaying of the effects of emotional abuse. The writer states and discusses why emotional abuse is most frequent and severe.)
Powell, K. (2009). Mental Abuse is One of the Most Damaging Forms of Abuse. Retrieved
November 8, 2009 from
http://emotional-verbal-abuse.suite101.com/article.cfm/emotional_child_abuse
(The article discusses ways in which mental abuse is damaging. It gives statistics on investigations involving emotional maltreatment in Canada and also states ways in which parents can cease emotional abuse of their childreen.)
Tominson, A. M.& Tucci J. (1997). Emotional Abuse. The Hidden Form of Maltreatment.
Retrieved October 21, 2009 from http://www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/issues/issues8/issues8.html#def
(The writers examine emotional abuse holistically. They look at various legal definitions, charcterizes it into its different forms and identifies preventitive methods.)
Wilson, M.I., Daly.M., Weghorst, S.J. (1980). Household Composition and the Risk of
Child Abuse and Neglect. Journal of Biosocial Science,12, 333-340
(This journal examines the incidence of child abuse and neglect resulting in validated case reports to the American Humane Association in 1976. It also fcuses on the way family composition affect the quality of parental care, and in particular the risks of child abuse and neglect.)
