A nurse is caring for a client who has been admitted with an ear infection. While discussing the partner with the nurse, the client says that the lover's behavior is "threatening" and "intimidating" at times, even though the partner has not physically harmed the client. The client wants to know what emotional abuse is. Which statement best describes an example of emotional abuse?

1 - being overly watchful of the client's every move

2 - throwing objects at the client

3 - destroying valued possessions or attacking pets

4 - forcing the client to have intercourse

3 - destroying valued possessions or attacking pets

Explanation:

Emotional abuse is any kind of abuse in which the abuser tries to gain control over another person's feelings or emotions. This kind of abuse is not physical but emotional and can involve shaming, ignoring, belittling, criticizing, intimidating and so on. The abuser sometimes threatens to hurt the victim or themselves, isolate the victims from other friends, ridicule or intimidate the victim or sometimes go as far as destroying things owned by the victim.

Over time, constant emotional abuse can result to feeling of worthlessness, low self esteem and destruction of self confidence.

Therefore, from the options above destroying valued possessions or attacking pets best describes an example of emotional abuse.