Hostname: page-component-6766d58669-tq7bh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-05-15T00:55:24.874Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Childhood Emotional Abuse

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Anne E. Thompson  and
Carole A. Kaplan
Anne E. Thompson*
Affiliation:
Fleming Nuffield Unit for Children and Young People
Carole A. Kaplan
Affiliation:
Fleming Nuffield Unit for Children and Young People
*
Dr A. E. Thompson, Fleming Nuffield Unit, Burdon Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 3AE. Fax: 0191 2120759
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background

The assessment and management of childhood emotional abuse is of increasing importance in psychiatric practice. At present there are no consensus views about the definition of emotional abuse and information from research is limited.

Method

Information about emotional abuse from the medical, psychological, social science and legal literature is summarised. Definitions and proposed mechanisms of damage are discussed. Current research data and an overview of childhood and adult sequelae are presented. Proposals for clinical and medico-legal practice are made.

Results

Theoretical models of emotional abuse and its consequences are derived from theories of childhood psychological development. Empirical research is beginning to show that emotional abuse may have a profound effect on aspects of psychological development in children.

Conclusions

The developmental theories and methods of assessment well established in psychiatry are useful approaches to the clinical assessment and further understanding of emotional abuse.

Information

Type
Review Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 168 , Issue 2 , February 1996 , pp. 143 - 148
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Alpher, V. S. & France, A. C. (1993) Interpersonal complimentarity and appeasement in relationships with initiators of childhood psychosocial trauma. Psychotherapy, 30, 502–511.Google Scholar
Brassard, M. R., Hart, S. N. & Hardy, D. B. (1993) The psychological maltreatment rating scales. Child Abuse and Neglect, 17, 715–729.Google Scholar
Crittenden, P. M. & Ainsworth, M. D. S. (1989) Child maltreatment and attachment theory. In Child Maltreatment: Theory and Research on the Causes and Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect (eds Cichetti, D. & Carlson, V.). New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Erickson, M. F., Egeland, B. & Pianta, R. (1989) The effects of maltreatment on the development of young children. In Child Maltreatment: Theory and Research on the Causes and Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect (eds Cichetti, D. & Carlson, V.), pp. 647–684. New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Garbarino, J., Guttmann, E. & Seeley, J. (1986) The Psychologically Battered Child: Strategies for Identification, Assessment and Identification. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.Google Scholar
Green, W. H., Campbell, M. & David, R. (1984) Psychosocial dwarfism: a critical review of the evidence. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 23, 39–48.Google Scholar
Hart, S., Germain, B. & Brassard, M. (Eds) (1983) Proceedings Summary of the International Conference on Psychological Abuse of Children and Youth. Indiana University: Office for the Study of the Psychological Rights of the Child.Google Scholar
Hickox, A. & Furnell, J. (1989) Psychosocial and background factors in emotional abuse of children. Child Care, Health and Development, 15, 227–240.Google Scholar
Home Office, Department of Health, Department of Education and Science & Welsh Office (1991) Working Together under the Children Act 1989. London: HMSO.Google Scholar
Kaufman, J. (1991) Depressive disorders in maltreated children. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 30, 257–265.Google Scholar
Junewicz, W. (1983) A protective posture toward emotional neglect and abuse. Child Welfare, 62, 243–252.Google Scholar
Main, M. & Gborge, C. (1985) Responses of abused and disadvantaged toddlers to distress in age mates: a study in the daycare setting. Developmental Psychology, 21, 407–412.Google Scholar
McGee, R. & Wolfe, D. (1991) Psychological maltreatment: toward an operational definition. Development and Psychopathology, 3, 3–18.Google Scholar
O'Hagan, K. (1993) Emotional and Psychological Abuse of Children. Buckingham: Open University Press.Google Scholar
Oliver, J. E. (1993) Intergenerational transmission of child abuse: rates, research and clinical implications. American Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 1315–1324.Google Scholar
Pastor, D. L. (1981) The quality of mother–infant attachment and its relationship to toddlers' initial sociability with peers. Developmental Psychology, 17, 323–335.Google Scholar
Patterson, G. R. (1986) Performance models for antisocial boys. American Psychologist, 41, 432–444.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Richters, M. M. & Volkmar, F. R. (1994) Reactive attachment disorder of infancy or early childhood. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 33, 328–332.Google Scholar
Rosenberg, M. S. (1987) New directions for research on the psychological maltreatment of children. American Psychologist, 42, 166–171.Google Scholar
Saunders, B. & Giolas, M. H. (1991) Dissociation and childhood trauma in psychologically disturbed adolescents. American Journal of Psychiatry, 148, 50–54.Google Scholar
Skuse, D. (1989) Emotional abuse and delay in growth. British Medical Journal, 299, 113–115.Google Scholar
Skuse, D. & Bentovim, A. (1994) Physical and emotional maltreatment. In Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Modern Approaches, 3rd edn (eds Rutter, M., Taylor, E., Hersov, L.), pp. 213–216. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific.Google Scholar
Terr, L. C. (1991) Childhood trauma: an outline and overview. American Journal of Psychiatry, 148, 10–20.Google Scholar

This journal is not currently accepting new eletters.

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.