Emotional Abuse - Criminal Offence

[shyvas]

Emotional Abuse To Be Made A Criminal Offence

 

[Amy SF]

Wow, that would never fly here in the US, or at least in some parts of the country. Because..."something something freedom, it violates our rights!" Actually, opponents would say, how do you describe psychological abuse? They'd claim that women would abuse the law to call the cops on their husbands and boyfriends to get revenge on them for bad sex or having to make breakfast every morning, or some such nonsense.

I'd be interested to see how well this law will work as intended.

 

[Clueless Git]

Wow, that would never fly here in the US, or at least in some parts of the country. Because..."something something freedom, it violates our rights!" Actually, opponents would say, how do you describe psychological abuse? They'd claim that women would abuse the law to call the cops on their husbands and boyfriends to get revenge on them for bad sex or having to make breakfast every morning, or some such nonsense.

I'd be interested to see how well this law will work as intended.

Aye, this is ridiculously close to turning "not making, and keeping, your partner happy" into a criminal offence.

In PC Land the idea that people should take more responsibility in choosing their partners is infinitely more ridiculous though.

 

[Mel]

It could be good if well implemented, but there should be methods in place to determine abuse of the system. We all know how well that works in real life though.

The article mentions "coercive control". I do agree that controlling behaviour should be punished. I know of a few women (in these cases) that complain that their SOs are controlling in many aspects of their relationships, and then in the same breath announce to the world (facebook really) how much they love their partner! Something is not right here.

"something something freedom, it violates our rights!"

Yeah, and the rights of the abused...?

 

[Amy SF]

Yeah, and the rights of the abused...?

I'm all for seeking justice for those who are psychologically abused. I was merely pointing out a common mindset of many Americans that any attempt to legislate human behavior is considered an infringement on their rights. Of course, it goes both ways. For example, I don't agree with laws that make cursing in public illegal, and these laws do exist in parts of the country. But even a well-intentioned law such as the one in the UK mentioned above would also be considered unacceptable to many Americans.

 

[yakherder]

I agree that emotional abuse can be just as if not more damaging than physical abuse, but it's also harder to define. Taking a look at the genetic predispositions of humans and the conditions in which we evolved, which is in contradiction with about 98% of the realities of modern life, I could argue that civilization itself constitutes a form of emotional abuse.

Trying to enforce something so open to interpretation is ridiculous.

I think education is the best bet, or perhaps obvious and easily defined forms of abuse.

 

[Moll Flanders]

I think it's a step in the right direction as I think the law before didn't specifically cover this type of abuse in intimate relationships. You think it will have a knock on impact for society in general as the law will make clear exactly what behaviour is unacceptable and will probably make victims of abuse more likely to ask for help. Emotional abuse does often occur with physical abuse too but people can be living in fear even without physical harm.

 

[Clueless Git]

Masochist: "Beat me! Beat me!"

Sadist: "No"

Masochist: "Hello, 999? I'm being emotionaly abused again ..."

 

[shyvas]

I agree that emotional abuse can be just as if not more damaging than physical abuse, but it's also harder to define. Taking a look at the genetic predispositions of humans and the conditions in which we evolved, which is in contradiction with about 98% of the realities of modern life, I could argue that civilization itself constitutes a form of emotional abuse.

Trying to enforce something so open to interpretation is ridiculous.

I think education is the best bet, or perhaps obvious and easily defined forms of abuse.

In a way it can even be worse, as it isn't always obvious to the immediate family or inner circle. Many victims feel very lonely and isolated as they usually go through numerous experiences of abuse before reporting it to the police.

I think it's a step in the right direction as I think the law before didn't specifically cover this type of abuse in intimate relationships. You think it will have a knock on impact for society in general as the law will make clear exactly what behaviour is unacceptable and will probably make victims of abuse more likely to ask for help. Emotional abuse does often occur with physical abuse too but people can be living in fear even without physical harm.

Exactly. Many people will have to think twice before abusing their partners behind closed doors. Being in an intimate relationship does not give you the right to control the person.

This is ABUSE

 

[Moll Flanders]

In a way it can even be worse, as it isn't always obvious to the immediate family or inner circle. Many victims feel very lonely and isolated as they usually go through numerous experiences of abuse before reporting it to the police.

Exactly. Many people will have to think twice before abusing their partners behind closed doors. Being in an intimate relationship does not give you the right to control the person.

Yes, I agree. Some abusers can be very charming on the surface in my experience. Abuse is abuse whether physical, emotional or sexual and they should all be treated seriously IMO.

My borough has a high domestic violence rate. I have three couples in my street who I can see have abusive relationships. One couple is well known to the police as they have police cars outside their house almost every month. The man went away to prison for a while as he assaulted her and they have alcohol problems on top of the abuse but they stay together without much change in their behaviour. The other two couples I had been wondering whether to call the police when I heard the verbal abuse and I think I will report it if I hear it again.

I think with abusive relationships often both parties probably need support or therapy (inside or outside of prison for the perpetrator) but my first worry is for the victim and her/his safety. The victim can become mentally broken and worn down, I've seen it with women victims I've known and worked with.

 

[shyvas]

Yes, I agree. Some abusers can be very charming on the surface in my experience. Abuse is abuse whether physical, emotional or sexual and they should all be treated seriously IMO.

My borough has a high domestic violence rate. I have three couples in my street who I can see have abusive relationships. One couple is well known to the police as they have police cars outside their house almost every month. The man went away to prison for a while as he assaulted her and they have alcohol problems on top of the abuse but they stay together without much change in their behaviour. The other two couples I had been wondering whether to call the police when I heard the verbal abuse and I think I will report it if I hear it again.

I think with abusive relationships often both parties probably need support or therapy (inside or outside of prison for the perpetrator) but my first worry is for the victim and her/his safety. The victim can become mentally broken and worn down, I've seen it with women victims I've known and worked with.

I certainly would report it as the person who is being abused is in danger.
A few months ago the police where called in (they were armed) when neighbours reported a case of abuse in one of the apartment buildings in my block of flats. Since then the couple have split up.

It is known that abusers suffer from a personality disorder which is a form of mental illness :

Emotionally Abusive Men and Women: Who Are They? - HealthyPlace

 

[KLS52]

Children suffer from emotional/psychological abuse/neglect too often.
We don't do enough to protect the children, either, IMO.

 

[Moll Flanders]

It is known that abusers suffer from a personality disorder which is a form of mental illness :

Emotionally Abusive Men and Women: Who Are They? - HealthyPlace

I have borderline PD so I'm not sure whether I agree with that, people with NPD and especially anti-social PD I would think could be abusers.

Children suffer from emotional/psychological abuse/neglect too often.
We don't do enough to protect the children, either, IMO.

I think people are starting to realise how much damage any form of abuse can do to a child, as an adult it must be horrible and confusing having emotional abuse from someone who is supposed to love you but as a child it's far worse.