Which of the following statements about emotional abuse compared to physical abuse is most accurate according to current psychological research?

• A. Neither emotional nor physical abuse has significant long-term effects on mental health.
• B. Emotional abuse can be just as harmful, or even more harmful, than physical abuse in terms of long-term psychological effects.
• C. Physical abuse never results in psychological harm, while emotional abuse does.
• D. Emotional abuse is always less harmful than physical abuse and rarely leads to lasting psychological problems.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the definitions of emotional abuse and physical abuse. Emotional abuse involves behaviors that harm a person's self-worth or emotional well-being, such as verbal insults, humiliation, or manipulation. Physical abuse involves bodily harm or injury caused by physical force.
2. Step 2: Review psychological research findings on the long-term effects of both types of abuse. Research shows that both emotional and physical abuse can lead to significant mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and trauma-related disorders.
3. Step 3: Recognize that emotional abuse can sometimes be more damaging than physical abuse because it directly attacks a person's sense of self and can be more difficult to detect and address.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the given statements by comparing them to the research evidence. Statements denying long-term effects or minimizing emotional abuse are inconsistent with current psychological understanding.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the most accurate statement is that emotional abuse can be just as harmful, or even more harmful, than physical abuse in terms of long-term psychological effects.