“I wish you would have never of been born.” “I should have aborted you.” “You are the biggest mistake of my life.” “I brought you into my life and I can take you out.”
Luke adds that "the most psychologically damaging thing you can say to a child is a lie that they find out later was not true. If this pattern repeats enough times, it will be very psychologically damaging."
The most common toxic behavior of parents is to criticize their child, express self-wishes, complain about the difficulties of raising a child, make unhealthy comparisons, and make hurtful statements1.
“ You're *#@! % stupid. ” “ I wish you were never born. ” “ No one is ever going to love you, you're so *#@! % fat and ugly. ” “ You never get anything right. ” “ You're worthless. ” These are mean and degrading things to say to someone.
In psychology, the term used most often to describe toxic parents is narcissistic parents.
Authoritarian Parenting
Mistakes usually lead to punishment. Authoritarian parents are normally less nurturing and have high expectations with limited flexibility. Children that grow up with authoritarian parents will usually be the most well-behaved in the room because of the consequences of misbehaving.
Sometimes they want backtalk to stop, sometimes they want complaining to stop, and sometimes they're just tired of listening to their child. No matter what the context, saying “Shut up” is rarely helpful and never appropriate. It begins a power struggle which the child may not be willing to lose.
Yelling at children can have a variety of detrimental psychological effects, such as the development of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and behavioral issues. Children who are yelled at may also display aggression and bullying behavior.
Previously speaking with Global News, cognitive scientist Benjamin Bergen said casually swearing around kids is fine. “The use of fleeting expletives doesn't have any impact at all on their well-being, on their socialization… as far as we can tell,” Bergen said.
Falls: The most common cause of injury for kids of all ages. Falls are the leading cause of injury among children. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that roughly 8,000 children are treated in U.S. emergency rooms for fall-related injuries every day.
Emotional or psychological child abuse is a pattern of behavior 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.
Here are some examples: Telling embarrassing or revealing stories in an attempt to manipulate the child's attitude or behavior. Taking what should be a private conversation about behavior and consequences and making it public by sharing it with friends, family, or the world at large (via social media)
Authoritarian parenting is an extremely strict parenting style. It places high expectations on children with little responsiveness. As an authoritarian parent, you focus more on obedience, discipline, control rather than nurturing your child.
Authoritarian parenting
strict enforcement of rules. emotional unavailability. one-way communication. demanding unrealistic expectations. low sensitivity to the child's feelings.
Emotionally absent or cold mothers can be unresponsive to their children's needs. They may act distracted and uninterested during interactions, or they could actively reject any attempts of the child to get close. They may continue acting this way with adult children.
Lack of consistency. Toxic communication — such as contempt, criticism, and sarcasm. Controlling behavior and distrust. Abusive — this is also inclusive of emotionally abusive behaviors, such as gaslighting, love bombing, breadcrumbing etc.
Emotional abuse includes: humiliating or constantly criticising a child. threatening, shouting at a child or calling them names. making the child the subject of jokes, or using sarcasm to hurt a child.
The silent treatment is a refusal to verbally communicate with another person, a way of withholding connection. It can be a spouse who stops talking after a fight or a displeased parent who refuses to speak or make eye contact with a child.
Broadly speaking, when a mother exhibits jealousy toward one or more of her offspring, she falls within the signifier of being a “narcissistic mother.” Senior therapist Sally Baker elaborates. “This is when a mother puts her own emotional needs above those of her children.