Verified by Psychology Today

Childhood Emotional Neglect

Overcoming a common phenomenon

Emotional Abuse
Is It Emotional Neglect or Abuse? How to Tell Them Apart

Jonice Webb Ph.D. on September 10, 2024

Some seemingly routine words and actions in relationships are actually emotional neglect or emotional abuse. Here's how to identify these instances and 5 steps to eradicate them.

Some seemingly routine words and actions in relationships are actually emotional neglect or emotional abuse. Here's how to identify these instances and 5 steps to eradicate them.

Child Development
5 Things You Should Know About Emotionally Neglected Men

Jonice Webb Ph.D. on September 3, 2024

Men have emotions that are vivid and deep, yet they are subtly discouraged from showing and sharing them. This harms their lives by hindering the depth of their connections.

Men have emotions that are vivid and deep, yet they are subtly discouraged from showing and sharing them. This harms their lives by hindering the depth of their connections.

Depression
5 Ways Emotional Neglect Sets You Up for Depression

Jonice Webb Ph.D. on July 26, 2024

The effects of childhood emotional neglect can increase your vulnerability to becoming depressed. But learning emotion skills can reverse that effect.

The effects of childhood emotional neglect can increase your vulnerability to becoming depressed. But learning emotion skills can reverse that effect.

Emotions
Do These 6 Things to Raise Happy, Resilient Kids

Jonice Webb Ph.D. on July 16, 2024

When it comes to raising children, love is not enough. They also need to feel seen and understood by their parents on an emotional level.

When it comes to raising children, love is not enough. They also need to feel seen and understood by their parents on an emotional level.

Parenting
The Well-Meaning Parent Who Grew Up Emotionally Neglected

Jonice Webb Ph.D. on May 21, 2024

Many of today's parents do everything they can for their kids, but one crucial element, emotional validation/education, can be a missing ingredient in families through generations.

Many of today's parents do everything they can for their kids, but one crucial element, emotional validation/education, can be a missing ingredient in families through generations.

Marriage
How to Rid Your Marriage of Emotional Neglect

Jonice Webb Ph.D. on April 2, 2024

Three signs indicate there may be emotional neglect in your marriage. Once you see it, you can take specific steps to emotionally connect and enrich your relationship.

Three signs indicate there may be emotional neglect in your marriage. Once you see it, you can take specific steps to emotionally connect and enrich your relationship.

Emotions
Why Some People Feel Like Outsiders Even if They're Not

Jonice Webb Ph.D. on March 26, 2024

The feeling of not belonging is very common in those who are raised with emotional neglect. Fortunately, there is a way to address the root cause of this harmful feeling.

The feeling of not belonging is very common in those who are raised with emotional neglect. Fortunately, there is a way to address the root cause of this harmful feeling.

Emotional Validation
3 Ways People Try to Avoid Their Feelings

Jonice Webb Ph.D. on March 19, 2024

Escape, avoidance, and minimization seem to be simple and straightforward strategies to handle pain, so many people choose them. Yet, they make things worse in every way.

Escape, avoidance, and minimization seem to be simple and straightforward strategies to handle pain, so many people choose them. Yet, they make things worse in every way.

Child Development
The Invisible Child All Grown Up

Jonice Webb Ph.D. on February 27, 2024

Parents struggling with life challenges may lack the time and energy to respond to their child's feelings. This effectively trains the child to hide their feelings and themselves.

Parents struggling with life challenges may lack the time and energy to respond to their child's feelings. This effectively trains the child to hide their feelings and themselves.

Child Development
10 False Lessons Childhood Emotional Neglect Teaches You

Jonice Webb Ph.D. on February 6, 2024

Our first teachers are our parents, who are supposed to teach us about emotions. But If your parents avoid dealing with your emotions, they give you some harmful, false ideas.

Our first teachers are our parents, who are supposed to teach us about emotions. But If your parents avoid dealing with your emotions, they give you some harmful, false ideas.