A repeated pattern or extreme incident(s) of behavior that interferes with or prevents a person from accessing basic psychological needs (e.g. safety, socialization, emotional and social support, cognitive stimulation, respect) and conveys the message that a youth is worthless, defective, unloved, unwanted, endangered, primarily useful in meeting another’s needs, and/or expendable.
This definition is from the APSAC Practice Guidelines on Psychological Maltreatment.