The face is a primary site for expressing emotion, establishing attachment, and receiving care. From infancy, a child looks to a mother’s face for safety cues. When that same face becomes a source of pain, the psychological rupture is profound. Abusers often target the face for several reasons:
Mothers who experienced emotional abuse as children often exhibit distinct physiological and behavioral patterns when viewing children's faces: Physiological Hyper-arousal
refers to a range of harmful behaviors—including physical, emotional, or sexual abuse and neglect—perpetrated by a mother or maternal guardian.