Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse is about undermining a child’s confidence and sense of self-worth – for example by ignoring them, giving degrading punishments, or constantly threatening or humiliating them.

The effects on children

All children need:

• acceptance 
• love 
• encouragement 
• discipline 
• consistency 
• positive attention from their parents.

Children who are denied these things often grow up thinking they are deficient in some way, and that they somehow deserve to be treated badly. This can lead to serious behavioural, learning, emotional or mental disorders. All of which affect the child's chances of developing into a healthy, well-adjusted adult.

Sadly, when they become parents themselves they may also emotionally deprive their own children because they don't have a positive role model to draw on.

What are the signs of emotional abuse?

It's not always easy to identify when a child is being emotionally abused. But the effects are damaging and long lasting. Read more about the possible signs