Verbal Abuse Literature Review

Literature review

Verbal abuse can leave scars found on www.bodyandsoul.com.au

Verbal abuse doesn't leave physical bruises, but it can cause deep and lasting mental scars.

When it comes to domestic abuse, we think of the external signs: black eyes, broken bones, bruises or bleeding. But research demonstrates that the long-term effects of verbal and emotional abuse can be just as devastating, if not more so, than the long-term effects of physical violence. There’s a famous saying that goes: "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me." But ultimately, it's often words that can do the most damage. Other people's words have an incredible power to affect how we see and feel about ourselves. While positive words of encouragement

They might vary in nature but they’re equally devastating. The abusers have a very low self esteem and want to bring you down to the state in which they’re in, Indeed, the verbal abusers' goal -- whether conscious or not -- is to obtain exclusive control over the victim. When thwarted, verbal abusers may repeatedly remind victims of their shortcomings, make uncalled-for pronouncements as to what they are (or are not) achieving in life, then act out with angry blow-ups or punish with stony silences. It’s not surprising, then, that victims of verbal abuse often end up depressed, or even questioning their sanity, says Evans, who adds that the literature points to a high correlation between verbal abuse and feelings of powerlessness and depression. Over time, the unremitting assault on individuals' autonomy and sense of identity can erode their confidence and self-esteem. When dealing with a verbal abuser, victims may be reminded over and over again that what they believe to be true is not correct. Attempts to explain that the attacks hurt or to counter insults are often met with those time-worn disclaimers, the ones every good verbal manipulator has to excess in his or her ready arsenal: "You're over-reacting." "You're too sensitive." "Can't you just take a

Bullied kids are most likely to be depressed, anxious, and suicidal. They struggle in school —if they do decide to attend at all. They are most likely to carry weapons, get in fights, and use drugs.

But when it comes to the actual harm bullying does, you realize there’s more to what the eye can see. Many of us have experienced this sort of cruelty and lived to tell the tale, peer harassment is still commonly written off as a “soft” form of abuse — one that leaves no obvious injuries and that most victims simply get over. It’s easy to imagine that, painful as bullying can be, all it hurts is our feelings.

Now the true effects are being investigated, however, is suggesting something more than that — that in fact, bullying can leave an irreparable imprint on a teen’s heart and mind at a time when it is still growing and developing. Being left out by one’s peers, it seems, can throw adolescents even further out of their way, lead to reduced connectivity in the brain, and even sabotage the growth of new