Would you guys consider a smack to the back of a young child's hand with a parents bare hand abuse?
I have said it before but I will say it again... emotional abuse is FAR worse than physical abuse. Kids get hurt all the time. They are clumsy and they have no fear. Being physically hurt usually does not scar the child.
It is the yelling and emotional abuse that goes along with the physical abuse the damages the kid. It is the yelling and screaming, the feeling of not being good enough, the feeling of being rejected by your parent that does the harm.