What is a key characteristic of verbal abuse?

Using language to threaten or insult is a key characteristic of verbal abuse because it specifically involves the use of words and communication as a means to cause emotional or psychological harm. This form of abuse can manifest in various ways, including yelling, name-calling, mocking, or making threats. The impact of such language can be profound, leading to feelings of worthlessness, anxiety, or fear in the individual being targeted.

In contrast, ignoring a person's requests could be seen as neglectful or dismissive behavior but doesn't involve linguistic threats or insults. Involuntary but harmful actions pertain more to unintentional harm and don't fall under the category of verbal abuse, since they lack the intentional use of language to hurt someone. Physical confrontation relates to physical abuse rather than verbal abuse, as it encompasses actions beyond merely using words. Hence, the defining feature of verbal abuse is its reliance on the harmful power of language, making the option regarding the use of language to threaten or insult the most accurate representation of verbal abuse.