Lecture 5: Emotional and Psychological Maltreatment.

What is Psychological Maltreatment?

• This refers to caregiver behaviours that harm a child’s emotional development, mental health, or sense of self-worth.

What is Psychological Neglect? give an example.

• This is whena caregiver fails to meet the emotional need of a child.

• Examples:

  • Ignoring a child’s feelings.

  • Not comforting child when upset.

  • Lack of affection or emotional support.

What is Psychological Abuse? give an example.

• These are behaviours done by the caregiver that actively harm a kid’s mental health.

• Examples:

  • Verbal insults (you are stupid and worthless)

  • Humiliation.

  • Threats of abandonment or harm.

What are some Challenges in defining psychological Maltreatment?

• Parenting exists on a scale/continuum

  • Behaviour can range from:

    • Healthy parenting (supportive, responsive).

    • Dysfunctional parenting (inconsistent or incentive).

    • Psychological Maltreatment (harmful emotional behaviour).

    • Example:

      • Occasional yelling may be poor parenting, but repeated humiliation becomes abusive.

• Most Parents Occasionally Respond Poorly

  • Even a good parent sometimes:

    • Ignores a child.

    • Speaks harshly.

    • Becomes frustrated.

    • This makes it hard to identify when behaviour becomes abusive.

• Intent and tone are hard to measure

  • Example phrases:

    • “Stop crying, or I’ll give you something to cry about”.

    • “I brought you into this world, and I can take you out”.

  • These statements, though a joke, can still frighten kids.

What are the Legal Definitions of Psychological Maltreatment?

• There is no single universal legal definition of psychological maltreatment; most states include emotional abuse in child abuse statutes, but definitions vary.

How is Psychological Neglect defined in law?

• This is often included under general neglect laws.

• Example definition:

  • Failure to provide necessary care for the child’s well-being.

  • Includes emotional care.

When did Psychological maltreatment research begin?

• It didn’t begin until the 1980s or 1990s.

When was psychological Maltreatment officially recognized in the DSM?

• DSM-5 (2013).

What did the DSM-5 include diagnostic codes for in terms of Psychological Maltreatment?

• Confirmed child psychological abuse.

• Suspected psychological abuse.

• Mental health treatment related to emotional abuse.

What is the Difference between psychological and Emotional Maltreatment?

• Emotional

  • Related to feelings and emotional expression.

  • Eg. Calling someone stupid

• Psychological

  • Related to mental processes and cognition

  • Eg, Threatening to abandon a child.

What did Researchers debate on in terms of psychological Maltreatment?

• Debate is ongoing about whether definitions should focus on:

  • Child outcomes (focuses on harms to the child).

    • Examples:

      • Anxiety.

      • depression.

      • Aggression.

        • The issue with this is that other factors, such as bullying and neighborhood violence, may cause these outcomes.

    • Parental Behaviour (focus on harmful caregiver behaviour).

      • Advantages:

        • Allows prevention before damage occurs.

        • Easier to observe and measure.

      • Interaction appraoch

        • Psychological maltreatment results from the interaction between:

          • Parental behaviour.

          • Child vulnerability

            • Example:

              • A child who is sensitive may be more harmded by criticism than another child.

How do researchers classify Maltreatment? give an example

• Maltreatment is classified based on the relationship between caregiver behaviour and outcomes.

  • Parent insults child —> child develops depression —> Psychological maltreatment.

What do most Psychologists agree on in terms of intent?

• Intent does not determine abuse.

• Even parents who mean well can cause psychological harm.

  • Example: mom who yells in frustration may still damage a child’s emotional well-being.

How does the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC) define maltreatment?

• Defined as caregiver behaviours that are repeated or extreme incidents that tell children they are worthless, unloved, unwanted, flawed, or valued only for meeting another person’s needs.

What are the 6 Subtypes of Psychological Maltreatment according to APSAC and give examples of each

• 1. Spurning

  • Characterized as hostile and rejecting behaviour towards the child.

  • Examples:

    • Belittling.

    • Degrading.

    • Humiliating.

    • Scapegoating.

• 2. Terrorizing

  • Threatening violence or abandonment.

  • Examples:

    • Threatening to hurt the child.

    • Threatening to abandon the child.

    • Exposing the child to dangerous situations.

• 3. Isolating

  • Preventing the child from normal social interactions.

  • Examples:

    • Keeping the child confined at home.

    • Forbidding friendships.

    • Severe social restriction.

• 4. Exploiting/Corrupting

  • Encouraging inappropriate or illegal behaviour.

  • Examples:

    • Teaching a child to steal.

    • Encouraging drug use.

    • Forcing a child into adult responsibilities.

• 5. Denying emotional responsiveness

  • Ignoring the child emotionally.

  • Examples:

    • Lack of affection.

    • No emotional engagement.

    • Ignoring the child’s attempts to interact.

• 6. Mental Health, Medical, and Educational Neglect

  • Failure to provide services necessary for development.

  • Examples:

    • Refusing mental health treatment.

    • Preventing school attendance.

    • ignoring serious medical needs.

What is Glaser’s Alternative Framework of why Psychological Maltreatment Occurs?

• Glaser proposed a definition based on children’s psychological needs.

What are the five categories of Glaser’s Alternative framework and give an example of each.

• 1. Emotional Unavailability.

  • Parents are physically or psychologically unavailable.

  • Example:

    • Parents are preoccupied with addiction.

• 2. Negative Attributions

  • Parents assume the child has bad intentions.

  • Example:

    • A parent assumes a child’s gift is a manipulation.

• 3. Developmentally Inappropriate Expectations

  • Expectations beyond the child’s developmental level.

    • Example:

      • Punishing a toddler for not understanding time.

• 4. Failure to Recognize Child’s Individuality

  • Parents use children to meet their own needs.

  • Example:

    • Parents use kids as emotional support during divorce.

• 5. Failure to Promote Social Adaption

  • Parents fail to teach appropriate behaviour.

  • Example:

    • Allowing a child to participate in crime.

What are some Parental Factors of Emotionally Abusive Adults?

• History of child maltreatment.

• IPV in the family.

• Separation or divorce of parents.

• History of substance abuse.

• Blended family.

What are some possible signs a caregiver may be emotionally abusive?

• Blames and belittles the child constantly.

• Overtly rejects the child.

• Speaks about the child in a negative tone.

• Is not concerned about the child and actively refuses to help the child.

• Does not give physical or verbal affection to the child.

• Terrorizes the child.

• Constantly ignores the child.

• Compares child to disliked or hated person.

• Blames child for problems.

• Corrupts the child; teaches or reinforces criminal behaviour, provides an antisocial role model, exploits the child for their own gain.

• Tortures or destroys a pet.

• Exposes the child to adult conflict.

• Exposes the child to IPV.

What are some Possible sings of emotional maltreatment?

• Decline in self-confidence can occur suddenly with the onset of abuse or over time.

• Headaches or stomach aches with no medical reason.

• Destructive behaviour.

• Overly compliant or eager to please.

• High self-expectations, critical of self.

• Approval seeking.

• Abnormal fears, increased nightmares.

• Failure to gain weight (especially in infants).

• Desperately affectionate behaviour.

• Speech disorders (stuttering, stammering).

• Habit disorders (biting, rocking, head-banging).

• Being easily frustrated.

What does Research say about Overlap with other forms of Maltreatment?

• 91% of physically abusive families also engage in psychological maltreatment.

• 45% of emotionally abusive families also engage in physical abuse.

What does Severity of Psychological Maltreatment Depend on?

• 1. Parental intent.

• 2. Degree of harm.

Why is Measuring Emotional Abuse difficult?

• Definitions vary.

• Behaviours are subjective.

• No “Gold standard” measurement exists.

What are some common assessment methods?

• Self-report questionaries.

• Interviews.

• Observations.

• Reports from teachers or professionals.

What did the NIS-4 say about emotional abuse and neglect?

• ~2.0% per 1,000 were emotionally abused.

• ~2.6% per 1,000 were emotionally neglected.

• Under broader criteria, it was ~15.9% per 1,000.

What did the CIS 2008 study say about Emotional Maltreatment?

• 7% of investigations primary concerns were emotional maltreatment, 48% was confirmed.

• Verbal abuse or belittling and exposure to non-partner physical violence accounted for the largest proportions of confirmed emotional maltreatment.

• Confirmed cases often involve multiple incidents rather than single incidents.

What did the FN/CIN 2019 Study say about Emotional Maltreatment?

• Emotional harm was noted in 35% of confirmed cases.

• Emotional maltreatment was the primary concern in 9.4% of confirmed cases; secondary or third concern in 13.6% of confirmed cases involving first nation children.

• Emotional maltreatment is primarily concerned in $14 of confirmed cases in non-indigenous children.

What does NCANDS Data (2018) say about Psychological Maltreatment?

• Psychological maltreatment alone accounted for 2.3% of child maltreatment cases.

What do adult surveys suggest about Emotional abuse in childhood?

• 1 in 3 adults reported emotional abuse during childhood.

• Examples included:

  • Being constantly screamed at.

  • Being called worthless.

  • Being terrified of parents.

What does Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs tell us about Psychological Maltreatment?

• Humans must meet basic needs before reaching full potential.

• Levels include:

  • Physiological needs.

  • Safety.

  • Belonging.

  • Self-Actualization.

• Psychological Maltreatment prevents children from meeting emotional needs such as love and belonging.

What does Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory tell us about Psychological Maltreatment?

• Development occurs through psychological crises.

• Example:

  • Trust vs mistrust:

    • If caregivers are responsive, trust develops.

    • If caregivers are emotionally abusive, mistrust develops.

• This affects future development.

What does Attachment Theory tell us about Psychological Maltreatment?

• Children develop emotional bonds with caregivers around 6-12 months.

• Secure attachment develops when caregivers are:

  • Responsive.

  • Emotionally available.

• Psychological maltreatment disrupts this attachment, affecting later relationships.

What are the 5 major areas of impact for Psychological Maltreatment Consequences? Give examples of each

• 1. Intrapersonal problems (emotional difficulties internally).

  • Examples:

    • Low self-esteem

    • Depression.

    • Anxiety.

    • Suicidal thoughts.

• 2. Emotional Problems.

  • Victims show higher rates of:

    • Emotional instability.

    • Eating disorders.

    • Substance abuse.

    • BPD.

• 3. Social and Antisocial Problems

  • Examples:

    • Aggression.

    • Delinquency.

    • Poor social skills.

    • Relationship difficulties.

    • Victims may also either avoid others socially or become overly attached to strangers.

• 4. Learning Problems

  • Children may experience:

    • Lower IQ scores.

    • Academic difficulties.

    • Attention problems.

    • ADHD symptoms.

• 5. Physical Health Problems

  • Psychological maltreatment may lead to:

    • Asthma.

    • Allergies.

    • Hypertension.

    • Headaches.

    • Stomach pain.

What is Non-suicidal Self-injury (NSSI)? give an example.

• Intentional self-harm without suicidal intent.

• Examples:

  • Cutting.

  • Hair pulling.

  • Hitting self.

How is Emotional Abuse linked to Substance abuse?

• Emotional abuse is linked to:

  • Alcohol abuse.

  • Cannabis use.

  • Smoking.

What is the most important protective factor?

• Supportive adult relationships.

• These relationships can buffer the effects of psychological Maltreatment.