Emotional Abuse and its Effect on

the Victim

Abstract

To find out why individuals start emotionally abusing, how to cope with it’s aftermath and the connection with Borderline Personality Disorder

Overview of Emotional Abuse Nine different types of abuse:

◦Abusive Expectations◦Aggressing◦Verbal Assault◦Constant Chaos◦Denying◦Dominating◦Minimizing◦Unpredictable Responses◦Emotional Blackmail

Abusive Expectations

Occurs when the abuser sets unreasonable demands on the victim.

AggressingMost often referred to as verbal

abuse, the abuser demoralizes the victim by name-calling, threatening, blaming, ordering, and accusing (Hein, 2010)

Verbal AssaultA more severe form of

Aggressing.Occurs when the abuser berates,

belittles, threatens, screams, and criticizes the victim.

Constant Chaos

Occurs because the abuser likes a constant state of chaos.

Also common in alcoholics. (Hein, 2010)

DenyingWhen the abuser denies an

individuals emotional needs, it is done with the objective to punish, humiliate, or hurt.

This form of emotional abuse is especially damaging as it can make the victim question your own perception and experiences, and eventually, your own mind (Hein, 2010).

DominatingThe abuser needs to control

every aspect of the victims life.Will resort to threats to get their

own way.

Minimizing

A less severe form of denial Trivializes, which makes the

victim feel unimportant

Unpredictable Responses

Radical changes in mood. Unexpected outbursts.

Emotional BlackmailUses a system of threats and

punishment, to play on fear, compassion, and guilt to control (Forward and Frazier, 2010)

If the power play doesn’t work, then the abuser will resort to threats to get what they want (Hein, 2010).

The Cycle of Emotional Abuse

FantasizingFirst, the abuser will fantasize

about how he will abuse the victim. He will think about how he will make the victim pay for whatever it is that he thinks has gone wrong (Smith and Segal, 2010).

Set UpSetting up the victim involves the

abuser mentally putting the plan of abuse in action.

This is the abusers justification of the imminent abuse (Smith and Segal, 2010).

AbuseThe abuse may aggression,

belittling, violence, silence, or whatever other emotional weapon he chooses to use.

Once the abuse is over, he begins to feel guilty.

ExcusesDue to feeling guilty, the abuser

then moves into the excuses portion of the cycle.

He begins to rationalize the behavior and come up with a catalog of reasons as to why the abuse happens, will blame the victim, but will not take responsibility for his actions (Smith and Segal, 2010).

Normal BehaviorOnce the abuser feels content

with the excuses he has placed on the victim, the abuser returns to his normal behavior.

He may act as if nothing ever happened and may even be charming and charismatic (Smith and Segal, 2010).

Continuation of the Abuse Cycle

The cycle of abuse will continueIt must continue so that the

effects will impact the victim.An emotional abuser refuses to

move on from the cycle.

How the Abuser Uses Power and Control

HumiliationIncludes insults, name calling,

shaming, and put-downs in public.

These tactics erode self esteem and make the victim feel powerless.

(Smith and Segal, 2010)

IsolationCuts off the victim from the

outside world.To increase dependence on the

abuser (Smith and Segal, 2010)

Threats

Threats are used as a scare tactic to make the victim bend to the abusers will.

(Smith and Segal, 2010)

IntimidationThe abuser may intimidate the

victim by scaring her into submission.

This is a clear demonstration of the abuser communicating what will happen if the victim does not obey.

(Smith and Segal, 2010)

Connection between Emotional Abuse and Borderline Personality Disorder

Researchers are unsure of the exact causes of BPD

Studies indicate both environmental and biological connections

Studies also indicate that a overactive amygdala can be to blame for BPD

Biological ConnectionLike other psychological

disorders, individuals who have been diagnosed with BPD sometimes have parents who have BPD.

Also, individuals who are diagnosed with BPD have typically been emotionally abused as a child (Lobbestael and Arntz, 2009).

What is the Amygdala?

The amygdala plays a huge role in stimulating emotions, regulating emotions, and emotional memory (Forward and Frazier, 2010).

Study on the Amygdala and its Connection with BPD

A study conducted in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine on the link between the amygdala and BPD concluded that individuals with BPD have higher activity in their amygdala than those individuals that are non BPD.

Overview of Amygdala Study

The study featured a total of 30 individuals◦15 diagnosed with BPD◦15 not diagnosed

The participants were showed pictures of faces with various expressions

Overview Cont…

All participants were showed the pictures of the expressions while undergoing an fMRI.

Results of fMRIIndividuals diagnosed with BPD

showed higher activity in the left amygdala on an fMRI compared to those participants who were not diagnosed with BPD (Donegan, et al. 2003).

Conclusion of the StudyThis information suggests that

individuals with BPD have more activity in their amygdala when presented with stimuli.

The amygdala, the study concluded, played a huge part in emotional dysregulation, hyperviligence, and disturbed interpersonal relations (Donegan, et al. 2003), as does emotional abuse.

Etiology of Emotional AbuseEmotional abusers seem to have

correlations in personality traits, past experiences, and behavior patterns.

Emotional abusers are typically raised in emotionally abusive environments and learn the behavior from dealing with their own abuse that they have received (Hein).

Typically, abusing is the only way that the abuser knows how to deal with their own emotions.

Effects of Emotional Abuse

Some research states that emotional abuse is just as harmful as physical abuse, and even more so because the scars can run so deep (Smith and Segal, 2010).

Effects of Emotional Abuse cont..The affects of abuse on the

victim varies by individual and level of abuse.

Effects can be emotional or can be as far reaching as the victim’s attachment style in relationships.

Some emotional abuse can be so severe that it can even affect the victim’s physical health.

Emotional EffectsReduces self worthBrings down self esteemDiminishes self conceptThe abuser accomplishes this

goal by repeated attacks, using variations of emotional abuse.

Effects of Abuse on Physical Health

One study shows that women who were emotionally abused had a significant increase in health problems when compared to women who did not report emotional abuse, yet had a lower rate of health problems than women who reported emotional abuse coupled with another form of abuse (Yoshihama, Horrocks, and Kamano, 2009).

Effects of Abuse on Physical Health cont..

However, women who were emotionally abused reported the highest rate of functional limitations such as carrying out usual activities and walking (Yoshihama, Horrocks, and Kamano, 2009).

Effects of Abuse on Mental Health

There is a positive correlation between emotional abuse and the victim experiencing anxiety, depression, anger, hostility, and disassociation (Arehart-Treichel, 2010)

Effects of Abuse on Attachment Style

Attachment style is affected due to emotional abuse having such a negative effect on self esteem;

Low self esteem can alter the attachment style, thereby, affecting the outcome of the relationship (Weston, 2008).

Dealing with AftermathCoping with the aftermath of

emotional abuse involves a process of realization that takes strength and diligence.

Realizing that the abuse happened and that it is not your fault is the first step in moving forward and moving on.

ConclusionAccording to my research, verbal

and emotional abuse is a form of aggression and is used mostly as a coping mechanism when the abuser is in a stressful event (Cameron, 1998).

More specifically, it is a powerful form of manipulation that the abuser uses to control the other person (Forward, 1997).

ReferencesDonegan,N. Sanislow, C. Blumberg, H.

Fulbright, R. Lacadie, C. Skudlarski, P. Gore, J. Olson, I. McGlashan, T. Wexler, B. 2003. Amygdala hyperreactivity in borderline personality disorder: implications for emotional dysregulation. Bio Psychiatry. Volume 1.

Frazier, and Forward, S. 2007. Out of the FOG - Personality Disorder Support. Emotional Blackmail. Retrieved on December 1st, 2010 from: http://www.outofthefog.net/CommonBehaviors/EmotionalBlackmail.html

References Cont.Hein, S. 2006. Emotional Abuse. Retrieved

on December 1st, 2010 from: http://eqi.org/Smith, M, and Segal. 2010. Domestic

Violence and Abuse: Signs of Abuse and Abusive Relationships. Retrieved on November 23rd, 2010 from: http://helpguide.org/mental/domestic_violence_abuse_types_signs_causes_effects.htm

Weston, R. 3/2008. Insecure Attachment Mediates Effects of Partners’ Emotional Abuse and Violence on Women’s Relationship Quality. Springer Science. Volume 1.

References Cont.Yoshihama, M., Horrocks, J.,

Kamano, S. 4/2009. The Role of Emotional Abuse in Intimate Partner Violence and Health Among Women in Yokohama, Japan. American Journal of Public Health. Volume 99, Number 4.

References Cont.Cameron, L. 1998. Verbal Abuse:

A Proactive Approach. Nursing Management.

Forward, S. 1997. Emotional Blackmail. Peter Fox Couples Therapist Canberra.

Loring, M. 1994. Emotional Abuse. Lexington Books. New York, NY.

References Cont. Lobbestael, J. and Arntz, A. 2008.

Emotional, cognitive and physiological correlates of abuse-

related stress in borderline personality disorder.

Behaviour Research and Therapy. Volume 48.

Chart References:Chart #1 and #2:Smith, M, and Segal. 2010. Domestic Violence and

Abuse: Signs of Abuse and Abusive Relationships. Retrieved on November 23rd, 2010 from: http://helpguide.org/mental/domestic_violence_abuse_types_signs_causes_effects.htm

Image retrieved from:Frazier, and Forward, S. 2007. Out of the FOG -

Personality Disorder Support. Emotional Blackmail. Retrieved on December 1st, 2010 from: http://www.outofthefog.net/CommonBehaviors/EmotionalBlackmail.html