I don't think any of us can know, that hasn't experienced both. I can definitely see the emotional doing more harm, though. We can't know, not being experts, of course, and not being in the right shoes. We can only guess.
Emotional abuse from parents affects more than physical abuse. It can scar a child for the rest of his/her life. Emotional abuse from parents can lead to depression, lack of emotional attachments to parents and guardians, worse educational achievement, worse social skills, anxiety, trust issues, lack of empathy, anger issues etc. Don't get me wrong, abuse in any form against a child is horrible no matter it be physical or emotional.
Source: Experience in each of these and had friends that have experienced this.
There is no 'worse', merely variations on a theme.
Physical abuse will usually bleed into emotional abuse (by default or by design), as will sexual abuse. The idea that they exist independent of each other is not one many abuse victims would recognise I think.
I went through both as a child. The emotional abuse was worse that the physical abuse. I was in my 20's before I realized I really wasn't as stupid as my mother always told me I was.
I went through both as a child. The emotional abuse was worse that the physical abuse. I was in my 20's before I realized I really wasn't as stupid as my mother always told me I was.
A child is so delicate and affected by any harshness, that it is a crime to abuse such an innocent victim. It hurts them bad. Physically or mentally. Just as bad.
Emotional scars last far longer than the physical ones. I have slowly learned to heal. I no longer feel the anger I felt for decades. Forgiveness has helped me put the past behind me.
This post was edited by Autumnleaves at December 16, 2016 11:53 PM MST