Description
General definition:
Any intentional conduct that seriously impairs another person’s psychological integrity through coercion or threats.
Statistical definition:
Any act which causes psychological harm to an individual. Psychological violence can take the form of, for example, coercion, defamation, verbal insult or harassment.
Additional notes and information
Its significant characteristic is an abusive pattern of behaviour occurring over time – within or outside the family.
It not only affects individuals’ mental health and their social networks, but also deprives them of opportunities for future personal, social and economic development. Examples of psychological violence include acts such as isolation from others, verbal aggression, threats, intimidation, control, harassment or stalking, insults, humiliation and defamation.
Sources
General definition:
Council of Europe (2011). Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence and its Explanatory Report. Council of Europe Treaty Series No 210.
Statistical definition:
Based on European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) (2017) Glossary of definitions of rape, femicide and intimate