"Critical words to a child are as painful and damaging as being physically hit. They are verbal slaps in the face. Usually, critical words are accompanied by threats, name-calling, and yelling. This verbal abuse can be especially damaging. Insulting names echo in a child's mind over and over again until he comes to believe he is indeed stupid, selfish, lazy, or ugly and that in fact, that is all he is."

Source : Beverly Engel (2002). “The Emotionally Abusive Relationship: How to Stop Being Abused and How to Stop Abusing”, p.71, John Wiley & Sons

Beverly Engel

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