Definition of Verbal child abuse
Verbal child abuse: Also known as emotional child abuse,
this is the third most frequently reported form of child abuse (after
child neglect and physical child abuse), accounting 17% of all cases
of child abuse.
It is likely that emotional child abuse is greatly underreported,
since it can be difficult to detect and difficult to document.
Emotional child abuse includes acts of commission or omission by
the parents and other caregivers that could cause the child to have
serious behavioral, emotional, or mental disorders. In some instances
of emotional child abuse, the acts of parents or other caregivers
alone, without any harm yet evident in the child's behavior or
condition, are sufficient to warrant the intervention of child
protective services. For example, the parents or caregivers may use
extreme or bizarre forms of punishment, such as confinement of a
child in a dark closet.
Emotional child abuse is also sometimes termed psychological child
abuse or mental injury of a child.
Last Editorial Review: 2/21/1999 3:35:00 AM
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