Consider the possibility of emotional abuse when

The child:

• Shows extremes in behavior, such as being overly compliant, demanding, extremely passive or aggressive
• Is inappropriately adult(parenting other children, for example)or inappropriately infantile (frequently rocking or head-banging)
• Is delayed in physical or emotional development compared to other children the same age
• Talks about hurting himself or has attempted suicide
• Shows signs of an angry, hostile or ambivalent attachment to the parent
• Shows dramatic changes in behavior in a short period of time

The parent or adult caregiver:

• Openly rejects the child
• Regularly blames, belittles or berates the child
• Calls the child inappropriate names
• Compares the child negatively to siblings or other children
• Is unconcerned about the child’s feelings
• Refuses to consider offers of help for the child’s problems