随着法制的健全，家庭中的肉体虐待有所减少，而精神虐待则呈现上升趋势。这种施加在家庭成员上的精神虐待就叫soft domestic violence（家庭软暴力）。软暴力的行为多发生在丈夫与妻子之间，也有父母对孩子、子女对老人施行的软暴力。

 

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.

众所周知，对家庭成员施行的肉体虐待被称为家暴，但还有一种暴力，它不会给身体留下疤痕，也不会受到法律的惩罚，但依然会带来深深的伤痛。这就是“家庭软暴力”，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.

对家庭成员实施的精神虐待可包括忽视对方的需求或拒绝沟通。这种行为常常导致心理和情感的极度痛苦，甚至会导致家庭破裂。

（中国日报网英语点津 陈丹妮）