Refusing to interact emotionally or physically with the victim, refusing gestures of affection, silent treatment. Constant verbal humiliation, degradation and criticism: "dumb," "ugly," "slut," "worthless." Scapegoating: blaming victim for the violence. Belittling accomplishments: "bad wife/lover/mother/ worker/housekeeper." Treating her like a child or servant; demeaning punishments. Subjecting her to public humiliation and ridicule. Publicly showing sexual interest in other women; having affairs.

Resisting infants' spontaneous overtures and natural responses to human contact; refusing to return smiles and vocalizations. Refusing child's affiliative gestures (e.g., hugging). Verbal humiliation and excessive criticism; frequent labeling as inferior: "dummy," "stupid," "monster;" frequently belittling child's accomplishments; publicly humiliating. Treating a child differently from siblings or peers in ways suggesting dislike; scapegoating. Excluding the child from family activities, expelling from family.

Enforcement of trivial and inconsistent demands; frequently changing the "rules of the game" within the relationship ("damned if you do, damned if you don't"). Unpredictable and extreme responses to conduct or choices. Extreme gestures and statements to intimidate, threaten or punish: threats of harm to the victim, children, family, friends, pets; threats to gain custody of or kidnap children, kill her, the children and/or himself, abandon the family, withdraw financial support. Demonstrations of omnipotence: punishing or depriving the children to punish her, forcing her to witness abuse of the children; hurting, maiming, killing beloved pets; damaging or destroying cherished belongings. Forcing her to choose between partner and children, family, friends. Constant criticism, public ridicule. Frequent raging alternating with periods of warmth.

Teasing; scaring; unpredictable and extreme responses to behavior. Forcing a child to observe violence (verbal or physical) directed toward loved ones. Extreme gestures and statements to intimidate, threaten or punish; threats of extreme or "mysterious" harm (e.g., threats to physically hurt, abandon or kill; threats of ghosts, monsters, etc.); frequent raging alternating with periods of artificial warmth. Presenting inconsistent demands or emotions, putting a child in a "double bind" ("damned if you do, damned if you don't"); forcing child to choose between parents; frequently changing "rules of the game" in parent-child relations; constant criticism. Threats to reveal embarrassing characteristics or behaviors (e.g., bed wetting) to peers or adults; public ridicule. Leaving unattended in frightening circumstances.

Withholding approval, appreciation, and affection as punishment. Refusing to interact with her emotionally or physically, ignoring or refusing her gestures of affection; cold, stony silences. Punishing the victim with long periods devoid of emotional response, refusing conversation, giving her the silent treatment. Ignoring requests for help with children, family or work problems, needed home repairs, during illnesses, etc. Showing no interest in activities and interests; concentrating on other relationships that displace the partner as an object of affection.

Ignoring attempts to interact, infants' spontaneous vocalizations or developing competence. Handling a child without physical and verbal signs of interest and affection: eye contact, hugs, stroking, kisses, and talk. Refusing conversation at mealtimes, leaving a child for long periods without emotionally engaged adult supervision. Not protecting the child from assault by siblings or family members. Showing no interest in activities and interests, or in evaluations by teachers and other adults. Ignoring requests for help with peer problems. Concentrating on other relationships that displace the child as an object of affection.

Controlling access to or withholding finances or transportation. Prohibiting or controlling social contact outside the relationship: work, school, social activities; controlling or denying access to family and friends; refusing to socialize and punishing victim for normal social activities, e.g., coffee with friends, spending holidays with family, etc.; punishing victim for making any social overtures, especially to men; rewarding her for social withdrawal. Monopolizing perception: setting impossible expectations and creating an atmosphere of impending punishment and danger so victim can only focus on her, the children's and pets' immediate safety needs.

Leaving an infant unattended in its room for long periods, denying access by interested others: family friends, health care workers, etc. Locking a child in a closet or, for a long period, in a room alone. Refusing to allow interactions or relationships with peers or adults outside the family. Punishing for social overtures to peers and adults, rewarding for social withdrawal. Prohibiting child from joining clubs, sports, etc. Keeping a child home from school to care for siblings; punishing for normal social experiences, e.g., dating.

Creating addictions directly, or indirectly by causing depression or Post-traumatic Stress Syndrome from abuse, resulting in self-medication with drugs or alcohol. Forcing the victim to have sex with other men, animals, objects. Forcing the victim into drug abuse and/or prostitution, complicity in crimes, e.g., retail theft, bad checks, drug pushing, etc.

Reinforcing infant for oral sexual contact. Goading child into aggression and rewarding for assaults on other children. Withdrawing child from school to work at home as servant or surrogate parent. Exposing child to pornography or involving in the production of pornography; involving child sexually with adults or adolescents, prostitution. Rewarding delinquency; encouraging abuse of drugs and alcohol.