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Emotional/Verbal Abuse

Many people, especially women, may assume that if they're not being physically abused by their partner, then they're not being abused. That's not necessarily true. Emotional abuse refers to a long-term situation in which one person uses his or her power or influence to adversely affect the mental well-being of another. Emotional abuse can appear in a variety of forms, including rejection, degradation, isolation, corruption, exploitation, and invoking terror.

Ð'* Rejection occurs from a refusal to acknowledge a person's presence, value, or worth.

o Ex: The abuser may speak to everyone else in a pleasant tone but speak to the abuse victim with disgust and contempt.

Ð'* Degradation occurs from the use of insulting behavior. It aims to diminish the dignity and self-worth of the person, and affects their sense of identity in a demeaning way.

o Ex: The abuser treats the victim as if they are a child and publicly humiliates him/her.

Ð'* Isolation is the limiting of a person's freedom to engage in normal association with others. It may involve physical confinement.

o Ex: The abuser may control all finances, communication (phone/internet), and make all the plans.

Ð'* Corruption involves training a person to accept ideas or behavior that is illegal or disobeys cultural ways.

o Ex: The abuser will manipulate the victim to follow adverse practices, like stealing, in order to make the victim feel like he/she will be favored if she does so.

Ð'* Exploitation involves using a person for advantage or profit.

o Ex: