Verbal abuse and threats can have a great impact. The adage “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is obsolete. Sure, it’s a great sentiment in theory, but in real life words often have a much greater effect than we give them credit for. At times, these words can be traumatic, especially when the person who utters them actually has the power, means and opportunity to realize them. Or has proven in the past to be vindictive enough to put their threats into practice.
“If you don’t do as you’re told you will be fired.”
“If you don’t stop crying I will hit you.”
“You’re stupid, you’re ugly, you’re worthless.”
“It’s all in your head. It’s not true. You’re lying.”
“I will make sure you don’t get a penny if you leave me.”
“If you don’t keep your mouth shut, I will destroy you, your reputation and your credibility.”
“I never want to speak to or hear from you again!”
“I will make sure no one believes a word you say.”
This article will be updated with further research and sources soon.
Sources
DEVELOPING THE COVERT TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE SCALE (COTES): A RETROSPECTIVE EARLY PSYCHOSOCIAL TRAUMA ASSESSMENT TOOL
Tiffany E. Vastardis PhD, LMHC, CCTP, CMHIMP
Clinical Education Specialist • Florida Residential Clinical Training Liaison • Mental Health Researcher • Licensed Psychotherapist • Clinical Trauma Specialist • Integrative Medicine Practitioner
Verbal Abuse and Threatening
The primary focus of the finite expanse of psychosocial trauma literature is
dedicated to the effects of direct verbal abuse. As afore-mentioned, neuroscientific
research has determined that verbal abuse negatively affects CNS development (Lee et
al., 2018; Tomoda et al., 2011). Associations between early exposure to verbal abuse and other maladaptive outcomes have also been uncovered. For example, exposure to verbal
abuse in childhood has been linked to maladaptive anger-coping behaviors (Aloia, 2017),
conduct problems, such as delinquency (Evans, Simons, & Simons, 2012; Celik, 2009),
psychological distress and diminished self-worth (Coates, Dinger, Donovan, & Phares,
2013), and internalizing problems, such as depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal
(Tan, Mariani, & Rohani, 2013). These findings express the need for screening for such
experiences in Counseling practice.
