View source for Verbal abuse

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Short description|Form of abuse using verbal communication for intent to harm person and entity}}
{{Other uses}}
'''Verbal abuse''' (also known as '''verbal aggression''', '''verbal attack''', '''verbal violence''', '''verbal assault''', '''psychic aggression''', or '''psychic violence''') is a type of [[Psychological abuse|psychological/mental abuse]] that involves the use of [[Oral language|oral]] or [[written language]] directed to a victim.<ref name=":0">{{Cite report| vauthors = Boltz M, Hoffman D |date=2017|title=Institutional Mistreatment: Abuse and Neglect. }}</ref> Verbal abuse can include the act of [[harassing]], [[Labelling|labeling]], [[insult]]ing, scolding, rebuking, or excessive [[yelling]] towards an individual.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Rosenthal LJ, Byerly A, Taylor AD, Martinovich Z | title = Impact and Prevalence of Physical and Verbal Violence Toward Healthcare Workers | journal = Psychosomatics | volume = 59 | issue = 6 | pages = 584–590 | date = November 2018 | pmid = 29909013 | doi = 10.1016/j.psym.2018.04.007 | s2cid = 49269673 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lawson |first1=David M. |title=Incidence, Explanations, and Treatment of Partner Violence |journal=Journal of Counseling & Development |date=January 2003 |volume=81 |issue=1 |pages=19–32 |doi=10.1002/j.1556-6678.2003.tb00221.x }}</ref> It can also include the use of [[Pejorative|derogatory terms]], the delivery of statements intended to frighten, [[Humiliation|humiliate]], denigrate, or [[belittle]] a person.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Koller |first1=Pavel |last2=Darida |first2=Petr |title=Emotional Behavior with Verbal Violence: Problems and Solutions |journal=Interdisciplinary Journal Papier Human Review |date=16 November 2020 |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=1–6 |doi=10.47667/ijphr.v1i2.41 |s2cid=228818487 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Verbal assault|url=https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Verbal+assault|access-date=2021-08-08|website=TheFreeDictionary.com}}</ref> These kinds of attacks may result in [[Mental distress|mental]] and/or [[emotional distress]] for the victim.<ref name=":0" />

[[Verbal aggression]] and abuse affects all populations, cultures, and individuals. These actions are psychologically damaging and are considered forms of emotional and physical harm to the victim.<ref name=":15">{{cite book |doi=10.1016/b978-012373985-8.00032-5 |chapter=Communication Studies, Overview |title=Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace, & Conflict |year=2008 |last1=Moyer-Gusé |first1=Emily |last2=Giles |first2=Howard |last3=Linz |first3=Daniel |pages=368–379 |isbn=978-0-12-373985-8 }}</ref> This type of behavior leaves individuals [[Self-esteem|feeling poorly about themselves]] and can lead to them developing numerous negative health issues and disorders such as [[suicidal thoughts]], [[Depression (mood)|depression]], poor physical health, [[anxiety]], [[Obsessive–compulsive disorder|obsessive-compulsive behaviors]], [[personality disorder]]s, and [[aggression]].<ref name=":15" /><ref name=":24">{{Cite journal |last1=Johnson |first1=Jeffrey G. |last2=Cohen |first2=Patricia |last3=Smailes |first3=Elizabeth M.|author4-link=Andrew E. Skodol |last4=Skodol |first4=Andrew E. |last5=Brown |first5=Jocelyn |last6=Oldham |first6=John M. |title=Childhood verbal abuse and risk for personality disorders during adolescence and early adulthood |journal=Comprehensive Psychiatry |year=2001 |volume=42 |issue=1 |pages=16–23 |doi=10.1053/comp.2001.19755 |pmid=11154711 }}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite journal |last1=Yun |first1=Je-Yeon |last2=Shim |first2=Geumsook |last3=Jeong |first3=Bumseok |date=2019-04-04 |title=Verbal Abuse Related to Self-Esteem Damage and Unjust Blame Harms Mental Health and Social Interaction in College Population |journal=Scientific Reports |volume=9 |issue=1 |page=5655 |doi=10.1038/s41598-019-42199-6 |pmid=30948757 |pmc=6449380 |bibcode=2019NatSR...9.5655Y }}</ref>

== Types ==
Victims of verbal abuse may display abusive behaviors towards other individuals. Verbal abuse and verbal aggression can take form in many ways. When individuals understand how verbal abuse may be presented, they can better analyze and act accordingly in certain situations. Verbal aggression can be defined as a characteristic or trait that drives a person to attack the self-values and concepts of others in addition to, or instead of, their own values and concepts.
* '''[[Bullying]]''' – "The use of physical, psychological and verbal aggression to intimidate others to submit to the will of another and/or cause emotional upset".<ref name=":42">{{cite book |doi=10.4324/9781843926009 |title=Dictionary of Prisons and Punishment |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-134-01183-4 |editor-last1=Jewkes |editor-last2=Bennett |editor-first1=Yvonne |editor-first2=Jamie }}{{pn|date=May 2023}}</ref> Bullying is typically one-sided and unprovoked by the victim and can be present in any environment.<ref name=":42" />
* '''[[Gaslighting]]''' – The abuser makes the victim question not just their own self, but also their own sanity. One way abusers tend to use gaslighting is by questioning the victim in a manner that gets the victim to question their own [[perception]]s of things. The effects of gaslighting include, individuals seeing themselves as outsiders, having low self-esteem, and feeling like they have no support in [[Decision-making|decision making]].<ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Portnow |first1=Kathryn |title=Dialogues of Doubt: The Psychology of Self-doubt and Emotional Gaslighting in Adult Women and Men |date=1996 |oclc=36674740 |url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/a487582b11ed34445a7e2406831861cf/1 }}</ref><ref name="Huizen 2019 j999">{{cite web | last=Huizen | first=Jennifer | title=Verbal abuse: What to know | website=Medical and health information | date=December 18, 2019 | url=https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327346 | access-date=August 4, 2023}}</ref>
* '''Accusations/'''Denial of wrongdoing''':''' When an individual [[falsely accuses]] another individual of performing a certain action; When an individual denies his/her actions performed against another individual that could have or did cause the victim harm to [[Self-preservation|self-preserve]] and protect the abuser. (Gaslighting also fits into this type of abuse).<ref>{{cite book |doi=10.1002/9781118611463.wbielsi052 |chapter=Accusatory Discourse |title=The International Encyclopedia of Language and Social Interaction |year=2015 |last1=Castor |first1=Theresa |pages=1–5 |isbn=978-1-118-61110-4 }}</ref>
* '''[[Minimisation (psychology)|Minimization]] –''' Refers to when the abuser is attempting to down-scale the severity of the situation and making it seem insignificant to the victim or audience<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hetherton |first1=Jacquie |title=The idealization of women: its role in the minimization of child sexual abuse by females |journal=Child Abuse & Neglect |date=February 1999 |volume=23 |issue=2 |pages=161–174 |doi=10.1016/s0145-2134(98)00119-7 |pmid=10075185 }}</ref>
* '''[[Threatening]]''' – When an aggressor uses words or actions against a victim that indicates if the victim does not comply with certain situations and/or actions, harm will be inflicted upon them.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Adams |first1=Michael |title=Language Ideologies and The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Evidence from Motive, Structure, and Design |journal=Dictionaries: Journal of the Dictionary Society of North America |date=2015 |volume=36 |issue=1 |pages=17–46 |doi=10.1353/dic.2015.0013 |s2cid=146645144 }}</ref>
* '''[[Name calling]]''' – The use of offensive language/names to gain something from the situation (ex: win an argument) or to probe a negative reaction out of another individual or situation; this is also used to induce rejection or condemnation without consideration of the facts in the situation.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Lessons in On-Line Reference Publishing, ''Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary''. Merriam-Webster, ''Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus''. Merriam-Webster, ''Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Encyclopedia''. Merriam-Webster |journal=The Library Quarterly |year=2001 |volume=71 |issue=3 |pages=392–399 |doi=10.1086/603287 |s2cid=148183387 }}</ref>

== Impacts ==

=== Age ===

==== Children and adolescents ====
Research shows that if a young child has been constantly verbally abused over the years they begin to develop constant feelings of [[mistrust]], [[shame]], [[doubt]], [[Guilt (emotion)|guilt]], and [[Inferiority complex|inferiority]].<ref name=":24" /> Studies show that two out of three American children are victims of experiencing verbal aggression from their parents.<ref name=":15" /> This can affect their mental, social, and interpersonal [[Child development|development]] during the most critical psychological developmental years which are generally between 2 and 19 years of age.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why Ages 2-7 Matter So Much for Brain Development |url=https://www.edutopia.org/article/why-ages-2-7-matter-so-much-brain-development |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=Edutopia |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":15" /> It has been found that verbally abusive behaviors in young children are generally learned through an adult [[role model]] such as a parent or [[caregiver]].<ref name=":54">{{Cite book |last=Helen. |first=Roth, Debra |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1007593163 |title=Adult Reflections on Childhood Verbal Abuse. |date=2004 |publisher=University of Saskatchewan |oclc=1007593163}}</ref> There are various ways a caregiver can use verbal communication to abuse a child: rejection of a child's worth, [[Social isolation|isolating]] a child from [[Socialization|social experiences]], terrorizing a child with verbal assaults, [[Neglect|ignoring a child's needs]], corrupting a child's views of the world and teaching them that delinquent activity is normal, verbally assaulting a child, and over-pressuring a child to mature faster than the normal rate of [[Maturity (psychological)|maturity]] for the child's age.<ref name=":54" /> Children who have experienced maternal verbal abuse have been more likely to develop [[personality disorder]]s in their adolescent and young adult years, they have also been known to develop obsessive-compulsive characteristics and [[Narcissistic personality disorder|narcissistic]] behaviors.<ref name=":24" />

==== College students ====
It has been found that verbal abuse damages the self-esteem of [[student]]s, places irrational blame onto themselves, and affects mental health and social interaction abilities in the students; this type of abuse in students can be projected through their [[Peer group|peers]] and professors.<ref name=":32" /> The effects of experiencing verbal abuse as a young child – developing negative feelings and in some occurrences, mental disorders – bled onto young adulthood and when they are moving onto higher education and becoming a young adult, they are more prone to experience more of these negative feelings, disorders, and even have an increased chance of [[Substance dependence|drug use]] in adulthood.<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":24" /> In the college population, research has shown that one of the most impactful forms of verbal abuse was peer-related verbal abuse which started with a student blaming another peer for something they did not do and escalated to yelling, [[Profanity|cursing]], and using [[Pejorative|derogatory terms]]; this type of abuse has been associated with increasing the risks of the student falling into a [[depressive mood]], developing anxiety, anger-hostility, and other emotional barriers.<ref name=":32" />

=== Gender ===
{{See also|Slut-shaming}}
Research has shown that in some grade-school scenarios – specifically middle school – verbal aggression is prevalent between boys and girls in different ways. Boys experienced insults and threats to a greater extent, while girls experienced sexual name-calling to a greater extent.<ref name=":63">{{Cite journal |last=Kuiper |first=Koenraad |title=Verbal Abuse in School: Constructing Gender and Age in Social Interaction by Miriam A. Eliasson |journal=Journal of Sociolinguistics |year=2008 |volume=12 |issue=2 |pages=254–257 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-9841.2008.00365_2.x }}</ref> Boys were often verbally abusive towards other boys and girls, this showed researchers that these characteristics were used to build [[masculinity]] amongst themselves. Often, boys are portrayed as needing to be "tough" or masculine, to be able to paint this image, they often resort to verbal abuse, which in turn, made them unfavorable to girls.<ref name=":63" /> Verbally abusive girls' reasoning for their actions of abuse was that they, in turn, were victims of bullying and/or verbal abuse by their peers and/or instructors because some of the girls would display the wrong kind of sexuality, femininity, and social age – according to their peers' and instructors' judgments.<ref name=":63" />

In some instances, the victims can become the perpetrators. It has been shown that [[Hispanic]] women who have experienced verbal conflicts and/or abuse with their father also go on to have verbal conflicts and/or abuse with their daughter. When Hispanic mothers exert a high level of verbal conflicts and/or abuse towards her husband, their daughter most likely will have a conflict with them – her parents  as well, when this happens it is also predicted that the daughter will go on to have the same conflicts with her partner.<ref name=":73">{{Cite journal |last1=Oramas |first1=Laura A. |last2=Stephens |first2=Dionne P. |last3=Whiddon |first3=Melody |title=Influence of Parental Conflict Resolution Strategies on Hispanic College Women's Experiences With Verbal Aggression |journal=Journal of Interpersonal Violence |year=2017 |volume=32 |issue=19 |pages=2908–2928 |doi=10.1177/0886260515596333 |pmid=26246116 |s2cid=28801696 }}</ref> In America, a vulnerable group for verbal aggression are college-aged women. 80% of these women are aware that verbal abuse is a serious ongoing issue and 25% of them have reported to have experienced verbal abuse in an [[intimate relationship]].<ref name=":73" /> In other instances, 65% of 358 low-income pregnant women claimed to have experienced verbal or physical abuse during their pregnancies, with younger women experiencing significantly higher rates of this abuse.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=O'Campo |first1=Patricia |last2=Gielen |first2=Andrea C. |last3=Faden |first3=Ruth R. |last4=Kass |first4=Nancy |title=Verbal abuse and physical violence among a cohort of low-income pregnant women |journal=Women's Health Issues |year=1994 |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=29–37 |doi=10.1016/s1049-3867(05)80107-0 |pmid=8186724 }}</ref>

=== Abuse in the workplace ===
The workplace can be a breeding ground for verbal aggression. Slurs, racist comments, and derogatory terms have been used against [[ethnic minorities]].<ref name=":15" />  In a study where 1000 nurses received a questionnaire and 46% responded, 91% of them claimed that they had experienced verbal abuse within the past month and more than 50% of them said that they did not feel capable of responding to the abuse.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sofield |first1=Laura |last2=Salmond |first2=Susan W. |title=Workplace Violence |journal=Orthopaedic Nursing |year=2003 |volume=22 |issue=4 |pages=274–283 |doi=10.1097/00006416-200307000-00008 |pmid=12961971 |s2cid=30218546 }}</ref> Adults who have been victims of verbal abuse and workplace mistreatment have been more susceptible to suffer from mental health illnesses and social disorders.<ref name=":32" />

=== Relationships ===
In romantic relationships, specifically physically and verbally abusive ones, it has been found that when the couple has a conflict, 53% of the victims to this abuse say that physical aggression was the factor that started the conflict while 33% of the aggressors, in this case, claim that verbal aggression was the factor that ignited the issue.<ref name=":15" /> It is not a surprise that both the victim and the aggressor have different points of views as to what caused the abuse to escalate. In marital relationships, it is common to see that if one individual – whether it be the husband or wife – has trouble communicating their needs and expectations to their partner, instead of having "healthy" discussion, they resort to using verbal aggression against their partner which in turn causes more distress and conflict in the relationship.<ref name=":15" /> Just like in the workplace, adults who have experienced intimate partner violence have also had their mental health and brain morphology be affected.<ref name=":32" />

== References ==
<references />
{{abuse}}
{{Bullying}}
{{Domestic violence}}
{{Psychological manipulation}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.psychvarsity.com/Psychological-Effects-Of-Being-Yelled-At Psychological Effects of Being Yelled At]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Verbal Abuse}}
[[Category:Abuse]]
[[Category:Harassment and bullying]]
[[Category:Psychological abuse]]
[[Category:Humiliation]]