A chain reaction is activated when a child witnesses abuse and passes it on to a younger or weaker sibling.

An abused parent often takes their anger and pain out on their children by being extremely critical.

The abused parent may become so overwhelmed and depressed that they can no longer take care of their children.

Other causes of an EAF include parents who are drug or alcohol dependent or who have a personality disorder.

All it takes for an emotionally abusive family to be created is for one parent to emotionally abuse the other, or for one parent to emotionally abuse one of the children. Emotional abuse spreads throughout the family like an infectious disease. The constant criticism, belittling, unreasonable expectations, gaslighting, intimidation, dismissing, competition, and silent treatment get passed on from one family member to the next. For example, if the mother in the family is being emotionally abused by the father, the mother may take the anger she is feeling toward her husband out on her children by yelling at them, being overly critical of them, or by making unreasonable demands. Or, so overwhelmed and weakened by the onslaught of unreasonable expectations, constant criticism and accusations, as well as gaslighting, the abused parent may take refuge in alcohol, drugs, or sleep and abandon their responsibilities and their children in the process, creating another form of abuse—neglect.

In an emotionally abusive family, every member of the family is affected—everyone becomes part of an extremely toxic environment.........

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