Psychological abuse

Psychological abuse refers to the humiliation or intimidation of another person, but is also used to refer to the long-term effects of emotional shock.

Psychological abuse can take the form of physical intimidation, controlling through scare tactics and oppression. It is often associated with situations of power imbalance, such perhaps as the situations of abusive relationships and child abuse; however, it can also take place on larger scales, such as Group psychological abuse, racial oppression and bigotry. A more "mild" case might be that of workplace abuse. Workplace abuse is a large cause of workplace-related stress, which in turn is a strong cause of illness, both physical and mental.

There need not be an agitator for psychological abuse to occur — one can undergo self-abuse, as in the case of someone who is a depressive, or self-mutilation.

Any situation in which the repeated and extreme impact of a situation affects a person's emotional and rational thinking, in such a way as to adversely impact their later lives, could be termed as psychological abuse at some level.

Psychotherapy and psychiatric methods can help some people overcome the negative effects of abuse, given time and a healing environment.

See also

• Emotional abuse
• Harassment

External links

• Rats & Bullies: The Dawn-Marie Wesley Story is a documentary feature film by Ray Buffer and Roberta McMillan
• Notes and Remarks above the Book from Marie-France Hirigoyen : Moral Harassment in Professional Life, How to Sort out Truth from Falsehood, Ed. La découverte et Syros 2001
• "BULLYING BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND BODIES" - case taken to the European Court of Human Rights / Council of Europe
• Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma at Alliant International University
• Workplace Bulling and Mobbing Resources
• Power Abused, Power Healed