Psychological abuse, often referred to as emotional or mental abuse, is a form of mistreatment characterized by one person knowingly or intentionally exposing another to behaviors that inflict psychological trauma. This trauma can manifest as anxiety, chronic depression, clinical depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder, among other psychological reactions. It is frequently observed in situations involving controlling behavior within abusive
relationships, and can encompass actions like bullying, gaslighting, and workplace abuse, all of which can make an individual feel unsafe.
Defining the Scope of Psychological Abuse
Clinicians and researchers have offered various definitions for psychological abuse, though the terms "psychological abuse" and "emotional abuse" are commonly used interchangeably. These terms are often distinguished from physical abuse and violence. While "emotional abuse" generally refers to any non-physical abuse, experts sometimes find it challenging to precisely define and legally prove it. Despite this, emotional abuse can extend beyond verbal and psychological abuse, encompassing behaviors like blaming, shaming, and name-calling, which significantly diminish a victim's self-worth and emotional well-being.
The U.S. Department of Justice identifies emotionally abusive traits as those that cause fear through intimidation, threaten physical harm to oneself, a partner, children, a partner's family, or friends, or involve the destruction of pets or property. It also includes forcing isolation from family, friends, school, or work. More subtle forms of emotional abuse include insults, putdowns, arbitrary and unpredictable behavior, and gaslighting, which involves denying that previous abusive incidents occurred. Modern technology has also introduced new avenues for abuse, such as text messaging and online cyber-bullying.
The Role of Power and Control
In 1996, Health Canada emphasized that emotional abuse is fundamentally "based on power and control." They defined it as including rejecting, degrading, terrorizing, isolating, corrupting or exploiting, and "denying emotional responsiveness." These characteristics highlight how abusers manipulate a victim's emotions to such an extent that the victim may lose recognition of their own feelings regarding the issues the abuser seeks to control. This systematic erosion ultimately strips away the victim's self-concept and independence.
Emotional abuse is not typically defined by an isolated incident of verbal aggression, dominant conduct, or jealous behavior. Instead, it is characterized by a consistent pattern of such behaviors occurring over time. Unlike physical or sexual maltreatment, where a single incident can constitute abuse, emotional abuse requires sustained and repetitive actions to be recognized as such. Andrew Vachss, an author and former sex crimes investigator, describes emotional abuse as the
