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1.10 INTELLECTUAL ABUSE -- TYPES AND CATEGORIES OF ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR

=== Intellectual abuse

MEANING: Disrespect for another's learning style, way of thinking or intellectual interests. This can involve ridiculing a child's carefully thought out ideas or devaluing a person's opinions. Calling a child 'stupid' or 'slow' is another form of intellectual abuse.

MORE ABOUT INTELLECTUAL ABUSE: This kind of abuse is rampant and so ingrained, most do not notice it. Calling a computer expert a nerd is a good example. Ridiculing a person who likes chess instead of football is another.

PERSONAL NOTE FROM RICK DOBLE: My father, who valued intellectual ideas, was often seen as the odd ball in his family. His brothers were all practical engineers and business men. My father, in turn, ridiculed my younger stepbrother who was not intellectual but was quite talented when it came to sports. Although my stepbrother struggled in school, he had a thorough knowledge of the rules of a number of games and knew their histories. In both cases, intellectual abuse or an intolerance of another's interests was involved.

I have seen teachers intellectually abuse students on a regular basis. While such teachers are often described as demanding or difficult, what they often do is inappropriate and destructive like all abusive behavior. Teachers have tremendous power and their bad opinions can sour a student and keep him or her from pursuing a promising career.

For example, a friend of mine designed a complicated and original lighting setup for a musical play as a class assignment. Everything she designed worked perfectly and was completed on time. Even though the teacher had asked the students to be innovative, this teacher decided she did not like this student's particular lighting style. The teacher insisted that the student completely rework the lighting to the teachers taste or the student would get a low grade.

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