Verbal abuse

Verbal abuse (also known as verbal aggression, verbal attack, verbal violence, verbal assault, psychic aggression, or psychic violence) is a type of psychological/mental abuse that involves the use of oral, gestured, and written language directed to a victim. It can take many forms, including name-calling, insults, humiliation, threats, excessive yelling and controlling behavior towards an individual. Verbal abuse is damaging to victims as it can cause them to experience fear, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder.

Verbal abuse is often used by abusers as a way to exert power and control over another person. It can be a precursor to physical abuse, and it can be used to manipulate victims into submission. Victims of verbal abuse often feel helpless, as their abusers use words to try to control their behavior. Victims may also fear retaliation if they try to stand up for themselves.

Verbal abuse can be difficult to recognize, as it is often subtle and can be disguised as a joke or as a gesture of love. It can be especially damaging to children, as they may not understand why their abuser is behaving in such a way. Additionally, it can lead to long-term emotional problems such as low self-esteem, poor self-image, and difficulty forming trusting relationships.

Types
Victims of verbal abuse may display abusive behaviors towards other individuals. Verbal abuse and verbal aggression can take form in many ways. When individuals understand how verbal abuse may be presented, they can better analyze and act accordingly in certain situations. Verbal aggression can be defined as a characteristic or trait that drives a person to attack the self-values and concepts of others in addition to, or instead of, their own values and concepts.
 * Bullying – “The use of physical, psychological and verbal aggression to intimidate others to submit to the will of another and/or cause emotional upset”. Bullying is typically one-sided and unprovoked by the victim and can be present in any environment.
 * Gaslighting – The abuser makes the victim question not just their own self, but also their own sanity. One way abusers tend to use gaslighting is by questioning the victim in a manner that gets the victim to question their own perceptions of things. The effects of gaslighting include, individuals seeing themselves as outsiders, having low self-esteem, and feeling like they have no support in decision making.
 * Accusations/Denial of wrongdoing: When an individual falsely accuses another individual of performing a certain action; When an individual denies his/her actions performed against another individual that could have or did cause the victim harm to self-preserve and protect the abuser. (Gaslighting also fits into this type of abuse).
 * Minimization – Refers to when the abuser is attempting to down-scale the severity of the situation and making it seem insignificant to the victim or audience
 * Threatening – When an aggressor uses words or actions against a victim that indicates if the victim does not comply with certain situations and/or actions, harm will be inflicted upon them.
 * Name calling – The use of offensive language/names to gain something from the situation (ex: win an argument) or to probe a negative reaction out of another individual or situation; this is also used to induce rejection or condemnation without consideration of the facts in the situation.

Impacts
Verbal abuse can have a serious and long-lasting impact on individuals. It can cause feelings of anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and even physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach aches. Victims of verbal abuse may feel trapped, ashamed, and powerless. They may feel like they have no way out of the situation and that they don’t have a voice. Verbal abuse can also lead to a cycle of violence, as the victim may try to defend themselves or confront the abuser, leading to further verbal and physical abuse. Ultimately, verbal abuse can have devastating consequences for an individual's mental health and well-being. It is important for victims to have access to counseling and support services to help them recover and move on from their experiences.