In the family where emotional maltreatment is occurring, the maltreating adult may:

• act irrationally or appear to be out of touch with reality
• be deeply depressed
• exhibit extreme mood swings
• constantly belittle the child or describe the child in terms such as “bad,” “different,” or “stupid”
• be cruel or sadistic
• be ambivalent toward the child
• expect behavior that is inappropriate to the child’s age or developmental capabilities
• consistently shame the child
• threaten the child with the withdrawal of love, food, shelter, or clothing
• consistently threaten the child’s health or safety
• reject the child or discriminate among children in the family
• be involved in criminal activities
• use bizarre or extreme methods of punishment
• avoid contact with the child, seldom touching, holding, or caressing him/her
• avoid looking or smiling at the child
• be overly strict or rigid
• torture the child physically
• abuse or neglect the child
• have been abused or neglected himself