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'Punishment' versus 'consequences'

The European Union's Istanbul Convention defines psychological violence as "the intentional conduct of seriously impairing a person’s psychological integrity through coercion or threats" (Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, Article 33 'Psychological violence').

For the purpose of this answer, I'm going to treat the terms 'emotional abuse' and 'psychological violence' as synonymous.

'Punishment' versus 'consequences'

And while I think that's a distinction worth making, because 'punishment' is about the enforcement of authority, whereas 'consequences' are about learning, I would rather (in this answer) look at actual parental behaviours, rather than get distracted by semantics.

And while I think that's a distinction worth making, I would rather (in this answer) look at actual parental behaviours, rather than get too badly distracted by an issue which could devolve into semantics.

Here an adult recounts the emotional abuse that she suffered as a child: "Bawling at me, backing me into the corner until I was whimpering and crying, he would just laugh at me and walk away, satisfied by my distress." (NSPCC: Fiona's Story).

Working Together to Safeguard Children: A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, HM Government, March 2013

If you know a child who you think might be being abused then you should contact the authorities and let them make the judgement call. That's not a call that you and I (as non-experts) should be making. If you're think it might be abuse then report it. The NSPCC says:

Here an adult recounts the emotional abuse that she suffered as a child: "Bawling at me, backing me into the corner until I was whimpering and crying, he would just laugh at me and walk away, satisfied by my distress." (NSPCC: Fiona's Story).

Working Together to Safeguard Children: A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, HM [British] Government, March 2013

If you know a child who you think might be being abused then you should contact the authorities and let them make the judgement. That's not a judgement that you and I (as non-experts) should be making. If you're think it might be abuse then report it. The NSPCC says: