Whats considered emotional abuse?

Question

...I need some examples, like a husband emotionally abusing a woman..Obviously it could be more then yelling and swearing right? What if the husband constantly criticizes his wife, complains about every little thing she does...Is this considered emotional abuse?

Answer 1

If he emotionally abuses you ,your gonna know it. Does he say you can't do anything right? or call you nasty names? How does it make ya feel? I think only you can decide if his words hurt you tell him, if he still does it get away, because they don't wake up one day and say hey I think I will be the nicest guy. My husband sometimes opens mouth and c**p rolls out, but I have learned to give it back. He has got better but god it's been a battle. Good luck

Answer 2

Sounds like you already know what it is..... Verbal abuse - becomes emotional abuse.  

Answer 3

YES!!!!! That is emotional abuse and if it is happening to you, remember YOU DESERVE BETTER!!!!!

Answer 4

If it is to the point of making her feel like she has to walk on egg shells all the time, then yes, it is abuse.  It is not good for her physical or mental health.  

Answer 5

Verbal abuse; name calling..manipulative words, messing with the emotions..making a person doubt themselves, their decisions

Answer 6

I would say that yes, it is emotional abuse. He is saying things that make you feel bad about yourself. I looked up some info for you...I hope this helps and good luck to you!

To consider whether your partner emotionally abuses you, look at the information available on physical abusers.  The patterns are similar:

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF ABUSERS

(adapted)

* She was verbally abused as a child, witnessed it in her own family, or was verbally abused by a previous partner.

* She has low self-esteem.

* She has an intense temper, triggered by minor frustrations and arguments.

* Her sense of power or control depends on her partner's acquiescence and his performance per her demands.  She feels "in control" only if her partner is totally passive and giving in to all of her preferences and decisions.

* She has rigid expectations or fantasies of marriage, partnership, or men, and will not compromise.  She expects him to behave according to her expectations of what her partner should be like; perhaps the way her parents' marriage was, or its opposite.  She demands that he change to accommodate her expectations.

* She projects the blame for all relationship difficulties onto her partner.  She wouldn't get angry if only he would be who she wants him to be...  She wouldn't drink if he didn't make her unhappy...  She denies the need for counseling because there's "nothing wrong with her, only with him."  She might not want him to get counseling because she's threatened by the threat of an outsider "taking sides" with him.

* Abusers are extremely possessive and jealous.  They experience an intense desire to control their mates.

* Abusers often have superficial relationships with other people.   Her primary, if not exclusive, relationship is with her husband/boyfriend.

* She may be described as having a dual personality -- she is either sweet or exceptionally cruel and sharp.  She is selfish or generous depending on her mood.

* A major characteristic of abusers is their capacity to deceive others.  She can be sweet, calm, charming and convincing.

* The mate is usually a symbol.  The abuser doesn't relate to her partner as a person in his own right, but as a symbol of a significant other.   This is especially true when she's angry.  She assumes that he is thinking, feeling, or acting like that significant other -- often her father (or other family member or authority figure).

An abusive partner will railroad discussions, so that you don't have time to think about what's right and what's wrong in their behavior.

Take a moment to consider these questions.  Your partner might have behaved as though these things were okay, even though it's obvious that they aren't okay...:

Do you feel that you can't discuss with your partner what is bothering you?

Does your partner frequently criticize you, humiliate you, or undermine your self-esteem?

Does your partner ridicule you for expressing yourself?

Does your partner try to isolate you from friends, family or groups?

Does your partner limit your access to work or material resources?

Has your partner ever stolen from you?  Or run up debts for you to handle?

Does your relationship swing back and forth between a lot of emotional distance (clammed up) and being very close?

Do you sometimes feel trapped in the relationship?

Has your partner ever thrown away or destroyed things that belonged to you?

Are you afraid of your partner?

EFFECTS

OF LONG-TERM EMOTIONAL & VERBAL ABUSE

ON THE VICTIM

Isolation from others - Feelings of low self-worth - Depression - Emotional problems - Illness - Increased alcohol or drug use - Withdrawal from real life into an Internet alternative reality

http://www.lilaclane.com/relationships/e...





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Answer 7

Yes I would say if it's constant and he never has anything nice to say then yes it's emotional abuse.

Answer 8

I think emotional abuse is manipulating a person into the abusers wants, so pretty much manipulating someones feelings so that person is confused about making a clear decision. This is just one aspect though.

Answer 9

If your sense of self-worth suffers from the criticism, it is a form of emotional abuse.

From: http://www.kalimunro.com/article_emotion...

"Unlike physical or sexual abuse, where a single incident constitutes abuse, emotional abuse is made up of a series of incidents, or a pattern of behavior that occurs over time. Emotional abuse is more than just verbal insults, the most common definition of emotional abuse. Emotional abuse is a series of repeated incidents - whether intentional or not - that insults, threatens, isolates, degrades, humiliates, and/or controls another person.

It may include a pattern of one or more of the following abuses: insults, criticisms, aggressive demands or expectations, threats, rejection, neglect, blame, emotional manipulation and control, isolation, punishment, terrorizing, ignoring, or teasing.

Harassment, physical and sexual abuse, and witnessing abuse of others are also forms of emotional abuse.

Emotional abuse can take place anywhere: at home, at school, in relationships, and in the workplace. Contrary to popular beliefs that bullies are only found in the school yard, many bullies also exist in the workplace."

I found this website helpful in understanding emotional abuse, too: http://www.lilaclane.com/relationships/e...

Answer 10

Abuse is any behavior that is designed to control and subjugate another human being through the use of fear, humiliation, intimidation, guilt, coercion, manipulation etc. Emotional abuse is any kind of abuse that is emotional rather than physical in nature. It can include anything from verbal abuse and constant criticism to more subtle tactics, such as repeated disapproval or even the refusal to ever be pleased.

Emotional abuse is like brain washing in that it systematically wears away at the victim's self-confidence, sense of self-worth, trust in their own perceptions, and self-concept. Whether it is done by constant berating and belittling, by intimidation, or under the guise of "guidance," "teaching", or "advice," the results are similar. Eventually, the recipient of the abuse loses all sense of self and remnants of personal value. Emotional abuse cuts to the very core of a person, creating scars that may be far deeper and more lasting that physical ones. In fact there is research to this effect. With emotional abuse, the insults, insinuations, criticism and accusations slowly eat away at the victim's self-esteem until she is incapable of judging the situation realistically. She has become so beaten down emotionally that she blames herself for the abuse. Her self-esteem is so low that she clings to the abuser.

Emotional abuse victims can become so convinced that they are worthless that they believe that no one else could want them. They stay in abusive situations because they believe they have nowhere else to go. Their ultimate fear is being all alone.

Answer 11

I would say if it makes you fell bad and he knows that it does, then it is emotional abuse.  

Answer 12

Yes, constant criticism and constant complaints are other forms of emotional abuse and are every belittling.  

Answer 13

Emotional abuse is about gaining control over another person. Batterers are methodical and will gradually increase the level of their abuse until their victim believes they have no other option but to accept the abuse.

Emotional abuse can take on a variety of forms. The examples you gave are absolutely correct examples. A question I often ask survivors of violence is why would a partner want to be with someone who they believe never does anything right? Batterers will constantly attack you verbally because it keeps you in control and afraid. They want control.

An outstanding way of looking at Domestic Violence and Emotional Abuse is the Power and Control Wheel (http://www.duluth-model.org/documents/Ph... It was created by a domestic violence program in Minnesota who talked directly to men convicted of domestic assault. This is what batterers, not victims, said they did to maintain control. I would strongly encourage you to look at the wheel and see that most everything a batterer does is emotional abuse; a batterer may only use physical or sexual violence when the emotional, verbal, and economic abuse doesn't work.

Every relationship will have fights and rough patches, but trust your instincts. If something tells you a relationship is not healthy, you're probably right.

The National Domestic Violence Helpline is a free, confidential 24/7 helpline that can refer people to their local domestic violence program. Local programs can offer free counseling and advocacy that can help a survivor of violence decide what she wants to do next.

Answer 14

it is to an extent.

when a husband does criticize and complains about everything he does it shows that he is not very appeciative of her.

which is bad. a uhsband is supposed to be loving and caring toward her and not criticize her about everything

if this situation involves you, dont be afraid to contact me through email im\

here to help ppl, in situations like this

Good Luck

Answer 15

Here's a list:

http://www.lilaclane.com/relationships/e...

Answer 16

Alex B is right!

Answer 17

yes emotional abuse could be yelling, screaming, antagonizing, belittling, blaming, not showing attention, there are a allot of emotions. so it is an emotion and it is belittling then there is emotional abuse barring down on you feeling and there would be feelings that would make you question what was said to you that could cause emotional damage i would consider that emotional abuse the emotions are being abused to make you feel that way (good luck)

Answer 18

absolutely so are snide comments, mean spirited jokes and general put downs

Answer 19

Any and all of the above and generally, constantly making a person feel inferior, ignorant, helpless, dependent and at fault for all the negative things that happen.