Abuse is abuse and one must take verbal assaults and abuse just as serious as physical abuse. The harsh reality is that verbal abuse is often just a precursor for physical abuse, additionally verbal abuse can also be sexual assault. Yes, sexual assault can be verbal or visible with an abuser talking sexually (describing what an abuser wants to do) and inappropriate (sexual innuendos), showing body parts (with no touching), etc. Verbal abuse is somewhat of a boiling pot that left unattended (and too often it is, as the bruises and scars are not visible) will only boil over and burn all around it. Abuse in any form can often be difficult to see as abusers and victims usually hide and one rarely wants to think that a parent, teacher or other loved one could be an abuser. Victims often hide abuse as they have been led to believe that they are to blame and it was their fault for provoking their abuser, that they deserved it. Verbal abusers seek to attack their victim’s sense of self and create self doubt. While physical abuse and verbal abuse often go hand-in-hand often verbal abuse has no physical accompaniment.
Verbal abuse on children is yelling on them with demeaning language, such as “I am ashamed of you,” “Can’t you do anything properly,” and more. It causes a psychological effect by continuous verbal harassment.
Children of verbal show self-destructive behavior such as cutting skin with razors and other self-injurious acts, which may put your children in danger. Studies have demonstrated that verbally abused children develop interpersonal problems, physical aggression, and delinquency at a higher rate when compared to others. Due to this aggression, they may hit other children or may quarrel with the classmates.
The harmful effects of verbal abuse run deep, the main effect of verbal abuse on children is delayed development. You may see a slowdown in the physical, social, emotional, and academic development in your children. Your children may face problems making friends, may fall behind in school, career, etc. Verbal abuse causes long-term harm to children. It may make the children become self destructive and depressed later in life, abuse to themselves, develop anxiety, etc.
The reality of abuse against children is shocking, for around four children a day in the U.S. die as a result of child abuse and neglect every day. An estimated 906,000 children are victims of domestic violence and abuse every year. However the key to ending abuse is to know the signs of child abuse. As a society we need to become more aware and more empowered or victims will go on being victims and the numbers will continue to grow. Therefore if you see a child or adolescent that is being abused don’t stand helplessly by and let them suffer, report it, talk to the child, and look for the signs. We can end violence against the vulnerable and if we all start with one child we are well on our way to winning the fight.
Resources:
Links for Abused Children and Parents
Crisis Hotlines
Books for Children and Parents of Victims of Abuse
Registering Harm: How Sex Offense Registries Fail Youth Communities
Engaging Bystanders in Sexual Violence Prevention
Rape Prevention and Risk Reduction: Review of the Research Literature for Practitioners
Report Describing Projects Designed to Prevent First Time Male Perpetration of Sexual Violence (Updated)
