Verbal abuse
Encyclopedia
Verbal abuse is best described as a negative defining statement told to you or about you; or by withholding any response thus defining the target as non-existant. If the abuser doesn't immediately apologize and rarely indulge in a defining statement, the relationship may be a verbally abusive one.
cite: "The Verbally Abusive Relationship" 1992, 1996, 2010 by Patricia Evans
In schools a young person may indulge in verbal abuse - bullying (bullying often has a physical component) to gain status as superior to the person targeted and to bond with others against the target. Generally the bully knows no other way to connect emotionally ie. be bonded with others. cite: "Controlling People" Adams Media Corp: 2002 by Patricia Evans pg.191.
In couple relationships the verbal abuser responds to the partners "separateness" i.e, independent thoughts, views, desires, feelings, expressions (even of happiness) as an irritant or even an attack. cite: "Controlling People" Adams Media Corp: 2002 by Patricia Evans. While some people believe the abuser has low self esteem and so attempts to place their victim in a similar position, i.e. to believe negative things about him or herself this is not usually the case in couple relationships. A man may for example, disparage a woman partner simply because she has qualities that were disparaged in him, i.e., emotional intelligence, warmth, receptivity and so forth.
A person of any gender, race, culture, sexual orientation, age, or size may experience verbal abuse. Typically, in couple or family relationships verbal abuse increases in intensity and frequency over time. cite:"The Verbally Abusive Relationship" Adams Media Corp: 1992, 1996, 2010 by Patricia Evans . After exposure to verbal abuse, victims may fall into clinical depression
and/ or post-traumatic stress disorder
. The person targeted by verbal abuse over time may succumb to any stress related illness. Verbal abuse creates emotional pain and mental anguish in its target.
Despite being the most common form of abuse
, verbal abuse is generally not taken as seriously as other types of abuse, because there is no visible proof and the abuser may have a perfect persona around others. In reality, however, verbal abuse can be more detrimental to a person's health than physical abuse
. If a person is verbally abused from childhood on, he or she may develop psychological disorders that plague them into and even through adulthood.
People who feel they are being attacked by a verbal abuser on a regular basis should seek professional counsel and remove themselves from the negative environment whenever possible. Staying with a verbal abuser is damaging for a person's overall well-being; and all steps to change the situation should be pursued.
Verbal abuse includes the following categories: countering, withholding, name calling, and abusive anger. The list of categories and their description were first published in "The Verbally Abusive Relationship" Adams Media Corp: 1992, 1996, 2010 by Patricia Evans. They are copyrighted. The complete list is available in any edition.
cite: "The Verbally Abusive Relationship" 1992, 1996, 2010 by Patricia Evans
In schools a young person may indulge in verbal abuse - bullying (bullying often has a physical component) to gain status as superior to the person targeted and to bond with others against the target. Generally the bully knows no other way to connect emotionally ie. be bonded with others. cite: "Controlling People" Adams Media Corp: 2002 by Patricia Evans pg.191.
In couple relationships the verbal abuser responds to the partners "separateness" i.e, independent thoughts, views, desires, feelings, expressions (even of happiness) as an irritant or even an attack. cite: "Controlling People" Adams Media Corp: 2002 by Patricia Evans. While some people believe the abuser has low self esteem and so attempts to place their victim in a similar position, i.e. to believe negative things about him or herself this is not usually the case in couple relationships. A man may for example, disparage a woman partner simply because she has qualities that were disparaged in him, i.e., emotional intelligence, warmth, receptivity and so forth.
A person of any gender, race, culture, sexual orientation, age, or size may experience verbal abuse. Typically, in couple or family relationships verbal abuse increases in intensity and frequency over time. cite:"The Verbally Abusive Relationship" Adams Media Corp: 1992, 1996, 2010 by Patricia Evans . After exposure to verbal abuse, victims may fall into clinical depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
and/ or post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Posttraumaticstress disorder is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. This event may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else, or to one's own or someone else's physical, sexual, or psychological integrity,...
. The person targeted by verbal abuse over time may succumb to any stress related illness. Verbal abuse creates emotional pain and mental anguish in its target.
Despite being the most common form of abuse
Abuse
Abuse is the improper usage or treatment for a bad purpose, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, sexual assault, violation, rape, unjust practices; wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime, or otherwise...
, verbal abuse is generally not taken as seriously as other types of abuse, because there is no visible proof and the abuser may have a perfect persona around others. In reality, however, verbal abuse can be more detrimental to a person's health than physical abuse
Physical abuse
Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm.-Forms of physical abuse:*Striking*Punching*Belting*Pushing, pulling*Slapping*Whipping*Striking with an object...
. If a person is verbally abused from childhood on, he or she may develop psychological disorders that plague them into and even through adulthood.
People who feel they are being attacked by a verbal abuser on a regular basis should seek professional counsel and remove themselves from the negative environment whenever possible. Staying with a verbal abuser is damaging for a person's overall well-being; and all steps to change the situation should be pursued.
Verbal abuse includes the following categories: countering, withholding, name calling, and abusive anger. The list of categories and their description were first published in "The Verbally Abusive Relationship" Adams Media Corp: 1992, 1996, 2010 by Patricia Evans. They are copyrighted. The complete list is available in any edition.
See also
- Bullying
- Domestic violenceDomestic violenceDomestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
- Emotional abuse
- Psychological manipulationPsychological manipulationPsychological manipulation is a type of social influence that aims to change the perception or behavior of others through underhanded, deceptive, or even abusive tactics. By advancing the interests of the manipulator, often at the other's expense, such methods could be considered exploitative,...
- Verbal self defenseVerbal self defenseVerbal Self Defense, aka 'Verbal Judo', is defined as using one's words to prevent, de-escalate, or end an attempted assault. It is a way of using words as a way to maintain your mental and emotional safety...