Domineering Actions Employed by Power-Seekers to Maintain Influence Without Affecting Your Confidence
In any relationship, it's essential to maintain respect, trust, and open communication. However, some relationships can become emotionally abusive, characterised by repeated patterns of manipulation and control. Here are some signs to look out for and ways to seek help.
Emotional abusers often estrange their victims from friends and family to gain more control in the relationship. This disconnect might not be the victim's fault but rather the result of the abuser's actions. Contempt, manifesting as eye-rolling, unkind words, sarcasm, and dismissal, is a common tactic used by emotional abusers to undermine their partners.
Emotional abuse can make the victim question their own reality. Lack of communication, a sign of emotional abuse, can create a sense of isolation, making it harder for the victim to seek help. Contempt, defined as feeling a person is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving of scorn, is a significant red flag.
Contempt is often hard to recognise and easily explained away. For instance, an emotionally abusive partner may manipulate their victims by exploiting their insecurities to get what they want. One partner controlling the other's actions, frequent apologies for bad behaviour, and persistent insults or name-calling are other signs of emotional abuse.
If you recognise these behaviours or feel that you "have no way out" or are being made to feel trapped, these are serious warning signs of an unhealthy and abusive relationship. Immediate help can be sought from trusted resources or emergency services if danger is present.
It's crucial to remember that people with low self-esteem may be more susceptible to manipulation in an emotionally abusive relationship. However, it's important to note that everyone has the right to a healthy and respectful relationship. People in healthy relationships give each other the freedom to live their lives.
Friends and family can provide support and help in escaping an emotionally abusive relationship. Recognising the signs of emotional abuse in a relationship is crucial for building a happy life and avoiding unhealthy relationships.
References:
[1] Healthline. (2021). Emotional Abuse: Signs, Effects, and How to Get Help. [online] Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/emotional-abuse [Accessed 15 Mar. 2023].
[2] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Emotional abuse: Recognizing the signs and getting help. [online] Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/emotional-abuse/art-20048397 [Accessed 15 Mar. 2023].
[3] National Domestic Violence Hotline. (2021). Healthy Relationships. [online] Available at: https://www.thehotline.org/healthy-relationships/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2023].
[4] Psych Central. (2021). Emotional Abuse: Signs, Effects, and How to Get Help. [online] Available at: https://psychcentral.com/lib/emotional-abuse-signs-effects-and-how-to-get-help/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2023].
[5] Psychology Today. (2023). Low Self-Esteem and Manipulation. [online] Available at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-other-side-shame/202302/low-self-esteem-and-manipulation [Accessed 15 Mar. 2023].
- Emotional abusers often attempt to isolate victims from friends and family, manipulating situations to gain more control in the marriage or relationship.
- Contempt, which can manifest as eye-rolling, unkind words, sarcasm, and dismissal, is a common tactic used by emotional abusers in relationships, contributing to the victim's feelings of emotional abuse.
- Emotional abuse can make the victim question their own reality and create a sense of isolation, making it harder for the victim to seek help from their family and friends, which is crucial for personal growth and maintaining healthy relationships.
- In healthy relationships, people give each other the freedom to live their lives, fostering a strong bond based on mutual respect, love, and trust, key elements in education-and-self-development and personal growth.
- Recognizing the signs of emotional abuse in love stories, such as contempt, manipulation, or control, is crucial for building a happy family lifestyle and avoiding unhealthy relationships, as emphasized by resources on relationships, education-and-self-development, and personal growth.
