User:SamyyA/sandbox

Definition
Emotional abuse is also known as psychological abuse, it is any act that effects a child’s emotional growth. This could be deliberately humiliating the child, not paying attention to their emotional needs, withholding their love and affection, threatening, name calling and belittling them (NSPCC). In result to the maltreatment some children may experience symptoms such as social withdrawal, showing high level of stress, fearfulness, attachment issues, low self-esteem, extremely aggressive and very friendly to strangers.

The term emotional/ psychological abuse is categorized as child abuse, in the UK parents/ guardians could face legal action if they’re found guilty intentionally harming a child’s emotional, physical or social development. There are legislations such as Children Act 2004 and safeguarding in place to tackle abuse.

Emotional abuse includes two types passive and active emotional abuse.

Passive Emotional Abuse
Passive emotional abuse is when a child is not receiving love and affection in order to be happy. This type is harder to recognize as it is not as obvious as active abuse, it is also similar to neglect. This affects the development of a child mentally and physically, it also includes characteristics such as lack of communication/interaction, parental bond, encouragement guidance (NSPCC).

Active Emotional Abuse
Active emotional abuse is when a child has been emotionally abused intentionally. This is when a parent/ guardian is using insensitive words, actions or ignoring with the intention of affecting them using words like “you are worthless”. According to NSPCC the following points are categorized as active abuse:

“Spurning (rejecting), Terrorising, isolating, exploiting or corrupting ".

Another example is the scenario below:

''James is 4 years old his mother is a single parent who has a drinking problem. She finds it difficult to raise him with no job. She’s most of the time low in mood and lets her frustration out on James. On one occasion James accidently spilled her cup of tea from the coffee table and he slightly burned himself. She yelled at him “you’re useless…your good for nothing this is why your father left you!”.''

This scenario is an example of active emotional abuse, even though there is a lot of issues with the mother’s alcohol addiction. She may have been intoxicated at this incident, being unemployed and low in mood could have increased her anger and frustration towards James which is only 4 years old. James is at high risk of emotional abuse and reoccurrence of this type of incident and worse, which would damage his emotional development and overall health.

Causes
According to studies there could be various reasons why some parents/guardians emotionally abuse their children.

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 * Stress - Stress can contribute to emotional maltreatment for instance in a single parent household the mother/father may be struggling to cope in raising the child/children.  Other factors may be financial crisis, work overload, marital problems, divorce or separation can create tension in the household which can result on a parent letting their anger and frustration out on the child.
 * Social factors - When a parent’s lifestyle can affect a child emotional needs for example a parent who has a problem with drug addiction or alcohol could be lacking in providing love, attention and affection.
 * Parenting ideologies - When a parent is constantly exceeding their expectations for the child, this can be academically or in comparison to children their age it is damaging to a child’s development. (NSPCC).
 * Emotional outbursts - Some of the parents seem to get their frustration out on their children that in terms affect them mentally and physically.

Effects
Emotional abuse has long term affects in physical and social development in a child. Researchers have stated that children with emotional abuse seem to be affected mentally and physically compared to other children. Emotional abuse causes anxiety, depression, low self -esteem, post-traumatic stress disorder and risk of suicide.

Some children develop behavioral changes such as anger problems, controlling their emotions, lack of self-confidence also eating disorders. (NSPCC).

Treatment
To treat the children suffering from emotional abuse, therapies are used such as cognitive behavioural therapy and person centred therapy. Children that suffered from emotional abuse with a long-term effect of post- traumatic stress disorder could be effectively treated with cognitive behavioural therapy. CBT involves treating and manipulating the behaviour of the child in a positive manner. This therapy can help a parent who may be struggling to have a bond with their child, talk therapy would be beneficial to them in improving their relationship. CBT is effective in treating stress and other mental health problems in children.

Prevention
Emotional abuse children are more likely to have a social, emotional and behavioural problems that develops with their life. To reduce the level of abuse there are certain programs which are used such as parent training programmes that are designed to manage child abuse, there are certain interventions used for controlling the behaviour of parents towards their child. Nenita La Rose further stated that United Nations Convention was introduced in 1989 to help the children suffering from abuse all around the world. There were various programs introduced to develop the situation of children suffering from emotional abuse such as ‘World Fit for Children’ and the Millennium Development Goals. The following programs aim to improve the condition of children suffering from exploitation, abuse, violence and neglect. Child helplines have been introduced all around the world for the protection of children. Studies have analysed data in relation to emotional abuse it’s more common in girls than boys.

Cultural Aspect
In some cultures, emotional abuse is not recognized it's also seen as  non-existent compared to physical or sexual abuse. Some parents believe that it is part of disciplining their child and teaching them from right and wrong. They may have experienced a tough upbringing and parenting as a child and it was seen as the norm. However, this may affect one child differently to another and could have a long-term effect into their adult life.