Is withholding affection a form of abuse?

adiktedtoian14	no, why would it be? it's a lack of affection, of closeness...but not abuse

asmoothrider	If you withhold it,as blackmail to getting something from your partner,then yes it absolutely is.

just jones	Emotional abuse

spot	I don't think so. Some people just don't know how to express it.

Boss	It can be that the person was not shown any from parents. Some people just don't know how to show affection.

Cake	SELF_ABUSE

Carl	IN a marriage, yes

Tamsalina	If the person is naturally not very affectionate then they may find it hard. But if they are witholding it purposefully then yes i think it's abusive as it can mess with your head so badly! We all just want to feel loved.

Tip$Â£y	Yes! You can lose the best thing in life by withholding ur true feelings! I know my girl truly loves me but I need her to show everything! Life is easier that way!!!

jesse	yes it is. it gives you the feeling that they dont really care and that is abuse

Nicole M	Not sure but I do it ocassionally with my hubby and it works for me.

traveller	not really, or though could mental abuse if it goes on to long.

dayce	yes. it says in the bible that a man shouldn't with hold from the woman nor the woman with hold from the man. Or less it is a mutual agreement.

donnasworld1	not only is it bad, but a sin

aussie	Depends on if you are using it and are doing it for abuse.

JFQ4U	Depends on the motivation. More likely it's a result of insecurity on the part of the person who is withholding. If someone is doing it just to be cruel, then I suppose so though withholding affection implies that they feel affectionately towards the other person so I don't know why they would consciously do that.

somethingoranother	i think so!!

safarlsun33	absolutely, especially for children or a spouse, its called neglect, it has damaging effects. we are meant to thrive on affection. just the way we are wired.

?	I wouldn't consider it abuse. I would consider it an option.

bigjimmyguy	of course it is and reason for divorce. We all go into relationships with the expectations of affection. If someone intentionally witholds affection it is time to move on.

d	Emotional blackmail perhaps, abuse no i don't think so. Its a method of gaining or keeping the upper hand or control.

Sweetie	If done on purpose to get what the other person wants, yes. If that is just the way the person naturally is and does not like to show affection, then no.

DramaGuy	Not in of itself but can be within certain contexts.

jonnienumberfive	it sure can be mental abuse

Isabelle	Yes. I would call it emotional abuse.

valkyries78	It's the worst form of abuse. "The opposite of love isn't hate...it's indifference."

Bergvlam	Yes, mental abbuse.

me4tennessee	In a marriage relationship it probably is a form of emotional abuse!

Roxy T	how does it make you feel, if bad then yep,

ThaFerkinShizzle	yES