Emotional and Physical Abuse Define

¶ … Emotional and Physical Abuse Define Emotional & Physical Abuse In simple terms, emotional abuse is the opposite of physical abuse in one way that seems rather obvious. Emotional abuse happens when someone's emotions i.e. self-esteem, or perceptions of self and others are obscured or influenced in a negative way by the words or behavior of another person. Emotional abuse has the ability to have long-term and debilitating effects and may be linked to various disorders i.e. anorexia, and bulimia.

People have formed these eating disorders in an attempt to gain a sense of control, since they feel they do not have control over their emotions or even at times their surroundings. Smullens, indicates that emotional abuse is a form of psychological manipulation and acute victimization. The writer goes further to explain that emotional abuse is often covert; and there is often a lack of acceptance of the severity and longevity of the impact of emotional abuse.

Emotional abuse can take many forms but some examples include taunting, withholding money, openly flaunting sexual interest in someone other than one's partner, refusing to discuss matters of importance or making light of someone's feelings every time he or she shows the courage to express them. Emotional abuse can also be found in insults, blame, the silent treatment, and threats of abandonment.

(Smullens) From external appearances, it is impossible to assess with accuracy who may be a charismatic and gregarious father in public but a bullying, belittling force behind closed doors. Similarly, it is impossible to know which mother may appear to want nothing but the best for her child, yet be in fact so terrified of being alone, that her efforts to keep the child safe and satisfied are really intended to prevent that child's healthy individuation.

(Smullens) These are just some of the things that go without clarification in the case of emotional abuse. So often, there is no road map to indicate whom, when, and why. This makes it difficult to know when you have an individual suffering from emotional abuse; as well as what the causes for the emotional abuse and who the culprit may be. Too often emotional abuse goes unreported for fear of recourse and for misconceptions that the individual believes they may deserve what is being done to them emotionally.

Physical abuse is when someone physically causes another person harm i.e. punching, kicking, throwing objects at them or using objects to cause injury i.e. cigarettes, knives, etc. His or her abuser often intimidates the abused individual. There are times when emotional abuse may be used in conjunction with physical abuse in order to help the abuser have a greater sense of power over the victim. This form of abuse is just as damaging if not more damaging in ways than its cohort emotional abuse.

Both man and women have lost their lives through enduring physical abuse and not being able to live to tell the story. While doing research it is easy to see that there is a plethora of research regarding child abuse, however there is limited research on physical abuse regarding both men and women. Physical abuse often goes unreported by both men and women because of embarrassment and often for fear that, the abuser will continue to cause them physical harm. Some studies, report that men experience.