隨著法制的健全，家庭中的肉體虐待有所減少，而精神虐待則呈現上升趨勢。這種施加在家庭成員上的精神虐待就叫soft domestic violence（家庭軟暴力）。軟暴力的行為多發生在丈夫與妻子之間，也有父母對孩子、子女對老人施行的軟暴力。

 

Physical abuse toward family members is known as domestic violence, but there is another kind of abuse which leaves no scars on body and would not be punished by law but still hurts very much. This is called “soft domestic violence”, also known as emotional abuse.

眾所周知，對家庭成員施行的肉體虐待被稱為家暴，但還有一種暴力，它不會給身體留下疤痕，也不會受到法律的懲罰，但依然會帶來深深的傷痛。這就是“家庭軟暴力”，也叫作“冷暴力”。

Non-physical abuse toward family members can include ignoring other people's needs or neglecting to communicate regularly. Such behavior often causes mental and emotional anguish and can lead to the breakdown of families.

對家庭成員實施的精神虐待可包括忽視對方的需求或拒絕溝通。這種行為常常導致心理和情感的極度痛苦，甚至會導致家庭破裂。

（中國日報網英語點津 陳丹妮）