Washington State Laws Regarding Verbally Abusing Children
What constitutes the fine line of reprimanding a child and verbally abusing one? Almost every parent, at one time or another, has spoken harshly to a child. You may even have said things you sorely regretted and later wished you could take back. Verbal abuse is difficult to define and normally falls into the category of emotional abuse and sometimes under the even broader term of mental abuse 2. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2011 report states that child fatalities from physical abuse, acts of physical abuse and neglect are often accompanied by other types of maltreatment such as verbal abuse.
Legal Definition
The Child Welfare Information Gateway website combines verbal abuse under emotional abuse 2. It defines emotional maltreatment as “injury to the psychological capacity or emotional stability of the child as evidenced by an observable or substantial change in behavior, emotional response or cognition” accompanied by signs of “anxiety, depression, withdrawal or aggressive behavior.” It notes that only the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and 32 states actually provide definitions of emotional abuse. Washington state does not. However, Washington does call maltreatment and neglect as an act, omission or failure to act that may cause injury or substantial risk to a child’s emotional development.
Verbally Abusive Behavior
All children are potentially vulnerable to verbal abuse. It may come from a parent, teacher, caregiver or even school mates. The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services website suggests emotional abuse is the belittling, demeaning or constant blaming of a child by an adult. Bullying is another type of verbal abuse that can include verbal insults, intimidation and sending cruel text messages or posting demeaning and hurtful notes on social media sites.
Recognizing Verbal Abuse
Verbal abuse can be difficult to spot. There are no outward physical signs, as it’s all on the inside. People who are verbal abusers call children hurtful names, intimidate their children and threaten them -- sometimes with bodily harm or abandonment. These insults, mean names and sometimes sexual harassment can leave a child feeling depressed and anxious and leave them with feelings of low self-worth and self-esteem that can last a lifetime. They may be overly compliant, aggressive, show bullying behavior or even be passive and possibly delayed physically and emotionally.
Reporting Abuse
Suspected child abuse is reported to offices in local communities in Washington state. Officials with the Child Protective Services department review each report to determine its validity and to ensure it meets the definition and criteria as set out by the state. Anyone reporting verbal abuse, maltreatment or neglect will be asked for the name, address and age of the child; parent or guardian names; the nature of the abuse, and any other relevant information.
- Kids Health: Dealing With a Bully
- GirlsHealth.gov: Verbal/emotional Abuse
- Borderline Personality Disorder. National Institute of Mental Health. Revised December 2017.
- Child Abuse and Neglect. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Updated November 29, 2019.
- Merza K, Papp G, Kuritárné Szabó I. The role of childhood traumatization in the development of borderline personality disorder in Hungary. Eur J Psychiatry. 2015;29(2):105-118. doi:10.4321/s0213-61632015000200002
- Westbrook J, Berenbaum H. Emotional awareness moderates the relationship between childhood abuse and borderline personality disorder symptom factors. J Clin Psychol. 2017;73(7):910-921. doi:10.1002/jclp.22389
- Kuo JR, Khoury JE, Metcalfe R, Fitzpatrick S, Goodwill A. An examination of the relationship between childhood emotional abuse and borderline personality disorder features: the role of difficulties with emotion regulation. Child Abuse Negl. 2015;39:147-55. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.08.008
- Rosenstein LK, Ellison WD, Walsh E, Chelminski I, Dalrymple K, Zimmerman M. The role of emotion regulation difficulties in the connection between childhood emotional abuse and borderline personality features. Personal Disord. 2018;9(6):590-594. doi:10.1037/per0000294
- Soloff P, Feske U, Fabio A. Mediators of the Relationship Between Childhood Sexual Abuse and Suicidal Behavior in Borderline Personality Disorder. J Pers Disord. 2008;22(3):221-232. doi:10.1521/pedi.2008.22.3.221
- Singh MM, Parsekar SS, Nair SN. An epidemiological overview of child sexual abuse. J Family Med Prim Care. 2014;3(4):430-5. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.148139
- Frias A, Palma C, Farriols N, Gonzalez L, Horta A. Anxious adult attachment may mediate the relationship between childhood emotional abuse and borderline personality disorder. Personal Ment Health. 2016;10(4):274-284. doi:10.1002/pmh.1348
- Kuo JR, Khoury JE, Metcalfe R, Fitzpatrick S, Goodwill A. An examination of the relationship between childhood emotional abuse and borderline personality disorder features: The role of difficulties with emotion regulation. Child Abuse Negl. 2015;39:147-55. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2014.08.008
- Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty Images