Emotional abuse includes the failure of a caregiver to provide an appropriate and supportive environment, and includes acts that have an adverse effect on the emotional health and development of a child. Such acts include restricting a child’s movements, denigration, ridicule, threats and intimidation, discrimination, rejection and other non-physical forms of hostile treatment. (Definition: World Health Organisation)

Emotional abuse is a pattern of behaviour that impairs a child’s emotional development or sense of self-worth. This may include constant criticism, threats, or rejection, as well as withholding love, support, or guidance. Emotional abuse can also include situations in which children are forced to hold responsibilities inappropriate to their age or when they are used to replace partners after divorce of their parents for example. Emotional abuse is often difficult to prove and, therefore, authorities may not be able to intervene without evidence of harm to the child. Emotional abuse is almost always present when other forms are identified. Surprisingly, emotional abuse can have more long-lasting negative psychiatric effects than either physical abuse or sexual abuse.

Emotional child abuse can come from adults or from other children:

• Parents or caregivers
• Teachers or athletic coaches
• Siblings
• Bullies at school or elsewhere
• Middle- and high-school girls in social cliques

Other names for emotional abuse are:

• Verbal abuse
• Mental abuse
• Psychological maltreatment or psychological abuse

Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the child:

• Shows extremes in behavior, such as overly compliant or demanding behavior, extreme passivity, or aggression
• Is either inappropriately adult (parenting other children, for example) or inappropriately infantile (frequently rocking or head-banging, for example)
• Is delayed in physical or emotional development
• Has attempted suicide
• Reports a lack of attachment to the parent
• Eating disorders can also be a sign of emotional abuse; a child might try to substitute lacking affection through over-eating

Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the parent or other adult caregiver:

• Constantly blames, belittles, or berates the child
• Is unconcerned about the child and refuses to consider offers of help for the child’s problems
• Overtly rejects the child

References:
Helpguide.org
Child Welfare Information Gateway

Definition:
WHO: World report on violence and health, Chapter 3, Child abuse and neglect by parents and other caregivers: