Bruiseless verbal abuse escapes moral control yet causes enduring psychic wounds

Evidence

Verbal abuse, in the form of hateful comments, vicious rumors and cruel disparagement and humiliation, has detrimental effects of a different sort. Unlike physically destructive conduct, verbal abuse leaves no evident bruises, open wounds, spurting blood, anguished cries, or death. … Although verbal abuse has few immediate tangible effects, its psychological and social effects can be devastating. Destroyed structures can be rebuilt and physical wounds heal, but destroying people’s sense of self-worth and social reputation results in psychic wounds that endure. Moreover, such wounds can be exacerbated or even extended by the changes in interpersonal relationships the hateful postings cause. To the extent that a falsely tainted reputation colors how others treat the victim, it can create a self-confirming social reality (Snyder, 1980). In this instance, the adage “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is wrong. — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 480

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Objectifying thought commits the mental violence that later becomes physical violence — Theodor W. Adorno, Max Horkheimer, Dialectic of Enlightenment, 153