Psychological and emotional intimidation are powerful forms of terrorism in which someone who is close to you threatens you (directly or indirectly) with a consequence, via a “me or you” option, using fear, obligation, or guilt. Terrorism in this context is any behavior or attitude that is designed to make someone feel inferior, or to harm, control, intimidate, punish, or isolate another individual through the use of force, degradation, humiliation, fear, obligation, or guilt, via actual violence or tolerated violence.

Actual violence, of course, is intended to hurt someone physically, from hitting or assaulting them (including abuse, destroying personal property, and bullying) to killing them. Tolerated violence can include verbal assaults, constant criticism, continual blaming, harassing, yelling, character assassination, or any other nontouching personal violations. This can be from a spouse, parent, teacher, minister, employer, workplace superior, fellow employee, law-enforcement officer—just about anyone. 

Bullying is terrorism; spousal abuse is terrorism; child abuse is terrorism; sexual harassment is terrorism; verbal assaults are terrorism; workplace harassment and violence are terrorism; racism is terrorism; gay-bashing is terrorism; brainwashing is terrorism. And terrorism should never be allowed.

If you hate (& therefore act indifferently toward) a segment of society because of their skin color, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, size, national origin, ethnicity, religion or whatever, THAT IS PSYCHOLOGICAL & EMOTIONAL TERRORISM!  

If you physically intimidate or harm an individual because of the above, that is a hate crime & THAT IS AN ACT OF TERRORISM!

The basic motivation of a psychological terrorist is always power and control; the basic drive is fear; the simple goal is to prove his or her superiority.

Conflicts themselves are not terroristic as long as each person is able to speak openly, without fear of sharing feelings or concerns, and is able to examine any areas of hesitation or resistance, while accepting responsibility for his or her part in the conflict. Conflicts are terrorist based if someone tries to control you, ignores your protests, and insists his or her character or motives are superior to yours, while avoiding any responsibility for the conflict.