Psychological violence is one of the most frequent, but at the same time, the most difficult to identify. For what reason? What are its causes and effects?
Verbal, emotional and/or psychological violence refers to verbal harassment through insults, permanent criticism, hurtful comments and humiliation; includes devaluation behaviors, dismissive gestures, ridicule, isolation, jealousy, and possessivenessThat is, verbal attacks are a form of psychological and/or emotional violence. We find several types of attacks that are considered psychological violence:
- Attitudes of hostility and contempt: false accusations, blaming the partner, making them feel inferior.
- Intimidation or domination: cause fear, control their actions, threaten to cause harm, isolate the person from their environment (friends, family).
It may interest you:
How do you know if you are a victim of verbal or emotional abuse?
Although Emotional abuse is the most common in relationshipsit is also the most difficult to identify because it is a normalized practice at a cultural level; For this reason, we gradually allow abuse, accepting screams and/or complaints. In some cases, mistreatment can be interpreted as signs of love: “If he’s not jealous of me, he doesn’t love me,” which causes the aggression to be justified and its importance minimized.
These actions, which at first seem small and natural, open the door to an increase in violence in the relationship. A door that will be very difficult to close.
Effects of emotional or verbal abuse
The impact of psychological violence can vary according to the frequency and intensity of the attacks and the individual characteristics of the victim. Among the most reported consequences are:
- Frequent consumption of alcohol, tobacco and psychoactive substances.
- Feelings of sadness, low mood and suicidal ideation.
- High levels of stress, irritability and frustration.
- Low self-esteem and decrease in self-worth.
- Depression and/or anxiety.
- Deterioration of close relationships (friends, family).
Personal characteristics that are related to verbal and emotional abuse
The following characteristics are considered risk factors in the occurrence of verbal and emotional abuse:
- Previous experiences of violence within and outside the family.
- Impulsiveness, jealousy, poor social skills to address conflict situations and use of violence to resolve conflicts.
- Abuse of alcohol and/or psychoactive substances.
- Violent or aggressive behavior, difficulty recognizing one’s own mistakes.
- Unpredictable mood swings or “anger outbursts,” especially when limits are set.
- Insecurity and low self-esteem.
- Rigidity, distrust and absence of empathy.
- Manifestation of sexist beliefs or attitudes (subordination of women to men).
- History of violence in previous relationships.
- Low socioeconomic level, lower educational level.
- Difficulties on an emotional level, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder.
It is important to keep in mind that it is the interrelation between these characteristics that can cause violent attitudes and behaviors, that is, a single element in isolation is not enough to predict abusive behavior.
In case you want to read:
How to get help for emotional or verbal abuse?
If you identify that you are being a victim of psychological abuse, you can go to the following lines or entities:
- : We provide guidance in psychology and emotional well-being for free, you can contact us through the chat you find on the website, write to us on WhatsApp at 3330333126 or call us. The line is available 24/7.
- EPS: Your health provider must guarantee the medical and/or psychological care service and activate the violence care route.
- Family police stations: They manage complaints of domestic violence, they have an interdisciplinary team (lawyer – commissioner, psychologist, social worker). These entities can issue police protection measures, temporarily resolve custody in the case of minors and generate agreements on the alimony quota.
- Office of the Ombudsman and Municipal Persons: They provide free advice in the defense of human rights, when violence occurs they can advise both victims and perpetrators.
- Women’s Secretary: Depending on your place of residence, you can approach this entity to receive timely attention in case of discrimination and violence; In general, you can come to consult about women, equity and gender policies.
- Line 155: provides attention 24 hours a day, every day of the week, you can contact this line under reservation and free of charge, from any operator throughout the national territory to receive guidance on issues related to gender violence.
- District Purple Line: is a telephone line for women over 18 years of age who live in Bogotá, it was created since February 2015 as a strategy between the District Secretariat for Women and the District Secretariat of Health within the framework of the Comprehensive Protection System for Women Victims of Violence SOFIA with the objective of contributing to the guarantee of women’s rights to a life free of violence and full health. Telephone contact 018000112137 – WhatsApp contact 3007551846.