Abuse is not just physical; harsh words and silence hurt just as much

Verbal and emotional abuse on a child can leave scars. One study has even pointed to health risks in children who are regularly subjected to violent speech. — dpa

THE WORD “violence” conjures up images of things like beatings, bruises and spilled blood. But when it comes to their children’s upbringing, parents can be violent without laying a hand on them. This is psychological violence, also called psychological or emotional abuse.

It includes threats of physical abuse, such as: “If you don’t go to bed immediately, you’ll get a lashing you won’t forget!” or saying humiliating things like: “You’ll never amount to anything!”