Denying emotional responsiveness involves parental behaviors of engaging with children primarily out of situational demands (e.g., necessity or urgency) rather than a genuine desire to connect and concern for their children's emotional well-being. It can manifest in various forms, such as rejecting affectionate gestures like hugs and disregarding children's attempts to interact.

New York University

1. Spurning
2. Terrorizing
3. Isolating
4. Exploiting/corrupting
5. Denying emotional responsiveness
6. Neglecting mental/medical/educational needs

Types of Psychological/Emotional Maltreatment

Includes physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Many veterans have history of ACEs. 

Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE)

- Child abuse and neglect refers to any behavior by parents, caregivers, other adults, or older adolescents that is outside the norms of conduct and entails a substantial risk of causing physical or emotional harm to a child or young person. Such behaviors may be intentional or unintentional and can include acts of omission (i.e., neglect) and commission (i.e., abuse).
- 5 Main Subtypes of Abuse:
   - Physical abuse
   - Emotional maltreatment
   - Neglect
   - Sexual abuse
   - Witnessing family violence

Child Abuse and Neglect

Kairys, Steven W., Charles F. Johnson, and Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect. "The psychological maltreatment of children—technical report." Pediatrics 109.4 (2002): e68-e68.

The Psychological Maltreatment of Children— Technical Report (Kairys et al., 2002)

Spurning, a form of psychological/emotional maltreatment, encompasses behaviors such as belittling, degrading, shaming, rejecting, or ridiculing children for showing normal emotions. It may also involve subjecting them to public humiliation and singling them out for criticism or punishment.

Spurning in the Context of Psychological/emotional Maltreatment

Isolating is a form of psychological/emotional maltreatment that confine children within a specific environment or restrict their social interactions. 

Isolating in the Context of Psychological/emotional Maltreatment

May cause insecure attachment styles (anxious or avoidant), and act withdrawn, critical, or emotionally dysregulated. Those with ACEs reported fear of intimacy and difficulty establishing relationships and experienced shorter relationships. 

Effects of ACEs on Relationships

Physical risks include cardiovascular disease and gastrointestinal issues. Mental risks include depression, anxiety, and PTSD. 

Health Risks from ACEs

ACEs are potentially traumatic events occurring in childhood (ages 0-17)



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