THE EFFECTS OF EMOTIONAL ABUSE ARE TO UNDERMINE THE COMPETENCE OF THE CHILD AND CRIPPLE HIS VIEW OF HIMSELF IN DEALINGS WITH FAMILY AND OTHERS. CURRENT LITERATURE ON CHILD CARE DOES NOT CLEARLY OR CONSISTENTLY DEFINE THIS KIND OF CHILD ABUSE, ALTHOUGH PROFESSIONALS AGREE THAT IT EXISTS. ABUSE IS SEEN IN THE PUNISHMENT OF AN INFANT'S SOCIAL BEHAVIOR, IN DISRUPTION OF CAREGIVER-INFANT BONDING OR IN A CHILD'S MANIFESTATIONS OF SELF-ESTEEM, AND IN PUNISHMENT OF BEHAVIOR NEEDED FOR NORMAL SOCIAL INTERACTION. A WORKING DEFINITION OF EMOTIONAL ABUSE IS NEEDED, ALONG WITH THEORY TO HELP SOLVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS. WHEN EMOTIONAL CHILD ABUSE IS SUSPECTED, EVIDENCE THAT MAY BE USED IN COURT, MUST SHOW THAT THE NORMS OF COMMUNICATION, PATIENCE, GOAL SETTING, AND EGO DEVELOPMENT HAVE BEEN WILLFULLY DISRUPTED. BECAUSE NONPARENTAL AND NONCULPABLE CAUSES, SUCH AS A CHILD'S TEMPERAMENT, MAY ALSO BE CAUSES FOR UNDESIREABLE CHILD BEHAVIOR, THE APPLICATION OF A SET OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES CONCERNING CHILD CARE REQUIRES ACCESS TO THE FAMILY. TO MEET THE PROCEDURALLY STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS FOR CALLING UPON THE COERCIVE POWERS OF THE STATE, INFORMATION ABOUT THE WELFARE OF THE CHILD SHOULD BE COMPREHENSIVE, DEPENDING ON DAY-TO-DAY OBSERVATION OF THE FAMILY, COMMON SENSE OR FOLK WISDOM ABOUT CHILD REARING, AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES. A SHORT BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (RFC)