The issue of emotional abuse as separated, autonomous or adjoining form of other modes of abuse becomes ever more pertinent. Emotional abuse of children and youth, being an invisible or immaterial concept in its manifestation, presents itself as a challenging topic for research and daily practice. In essence, it denotes destructive behavior of the adults towards the child, manipulation with the childs feelings, especially with the sense of guilt and inferiority. Most common forms of emotional abuse are: rejection and denial of childs needs; terrorizing or using continuous verbal maltreatment; ignoring and degradation of the child, which includes omission of positive simulation and encouragement; manipulation; isolation; persistent sarcasm; disparagement; support for the childs malbehaviour; bribery; verbal attacks and exerting high-levels of pressure on the child. Emotional abuse in the family is linked with the risk factor on several levels encompassing characteristics of the parents, children and the surroundings. Asserting the factors of risk and protection, along with understanding their interconnectedness, is proven to have a major significance in early detection of risk family environments and timely prevention. Research has shown that emotional abuse can cause severe effects on childs future, yet, regardless of scientific findings and arguments, the topic of emotional abuse still remains underrepresented. Accordingly, the main objective of this thesis is to provide descriptive insight into contested discourses on terminology that defines this topic and its theoretical underpinnings, as well as to detect its main forms and effects, levels of prevention along with risk and protection factors.