Emotional abuse

Across the UK, a shared definition of emotional or psychological harm and abuse is:  

Emotional or psychological harm and abuse refers to ongoing emotional mistreatment that can lead to serious and lasting harm to a person’s emotional development. It typically involves actions or behaviours such as:

• making someone feel worthless, unloved, or inadequate
• repeatedly causing fear or humiliation
• threatening harm or abandonment
• using coercion or intimidation
• isolating someone from others
• harassing or bullying, including online (cyberbullying)  

There are some differences across the UK:

• England, Wales, and Northern Ireland use the term ‘Emotional/Psychological abuse’ and share the same definition.
• Scotland uses the term ‘Emotional/Psychological harm’ and adds two specific behaviours to its definition – enforced social isolation and failing to respect someone’s privacy.

Some level of emotional abuse is always an aspect of all other types of abuse and harm, but it can also happen on its own.