What constitutes as child abuse?

Talk to a close family member or any trusted adult figure and they will give you good advice. But you shouldnt have to live with someone telling you that. Answer mine? http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqPN4gAA9XMNBjcIlZKu2PfC7BR.;_ylv=3?qid=20120506213801AASKccg

Verbal abuse (also known as reviling) is best described as a negative defining statement told to you or about you; or by withholding any response thus defining the target as non-existent. If the abuser doesn't immediately apologize and rarely indulge in a defining statement, the relationship may be a verbally abusive one. cite: "The Verbally Abusive Relationship" 1992, 1996, 2010 by Patricia Evans. In schools a young person may indulge in verbal abuse - bullying (bullying often has a physical component) to gain status as superior to the person targeted and to bond with others against the target. Generally the bully knows no other way to connect emotionally ie. be bonded with others. cite: "Controlling People" Adams Media Corp: 2002 by Patricia Evans pg.191. In couple relationships the verbal abuser responds to the partners "separateness" i.e, independent thoughts, views, desires, feelings, expressions (even of happiness) as an irritant or even an attack. cite: "Controlling People" Adams Media Corp: 2002 by Patricia Evans. While some people believe the abuser has low self esteem and so attempts to place their victim in a similar position, i.e. to believe negative things about him or herself this is not usually the case in couple relationships. A man may for example, disparage a woman partner simply because she has qualities that were disparaged in him, i.e., emotional intelligence, warmth, receptivity and so forth.[citation needed] A person of any gender, race, culture, sexual orientation, age, or size may experience verbal abuse. Typically, in couple or family relationships verbal abuse increases in intensity and frequency over time. cite: "The Verbally Abusive Relationship" Adams Media Corp: 1992, 1996, 2010 by Patricia Evans. After exposure to verbal abuse, victims may fall into clinical depression and/ or post-traumatic stress disorder. The person targeted by verbal abuse over time may succumb to any stress related illness. Verbal abuse creates emotional pain and mental anguish in its target. Talk to someone close to you. They can help. Above is the definition