What is a common psychological tactic used in emotional or psychological battering?

Verbal abuse and humiliation are indeed common psychological tactics used in emotional or psychological battering. This form of abuse involves degrading language, insults, and belittling remarks aimed at undermining the victim's self-worth and confidence. The abuser often employs this tactic to exert control and dominance over the victim, creating an environment of fear and emotional distress.

When individuals are subjected to verbal abuse consistently, it can have severe long-term effects on their mental health, including anxiety, depression, and feelings of helplessness. This tactic is often insidious because it can occur in both overt and subtle ways, making it harder for victims to recognize that they are being abused. The emotional scars from such abuse can be as damaging as physical injuries, emphasizing the significance of recognizing verbal abuse as a serious form of violence.

Other options, while also serious, represent different aspects of abusive behavior. For example, using physical violence and threatening physical harm involves more direct and observable forms of aggression, and the silent treatment can be a form of emotional manipulation, but verbal abuse and humiliation are more pervasive tactics used to erode a person’s sense of self and autonomy over time.