Research glossary

Narcissistic traits may include entitlement, lack of empathy, constant need for admiration, and difficulty accepting criticism.

In abusive relationships, narcissistic behaviour can show up as emotional manipulation, extreme jealousy, control, and refusal to take responsibility. Not all narcissism equals abuse, but in violent relationships, these traits can intensify harm.

Narcissistic traits may include entitlement, lack of empathy, constant need for admiration, and difficulty accepting criticism.

In abusive relationships, narcissistic behaviour can show up as emotional manipulation, extreme jealousy, control, and refusal to take responsibility. Not all narcissism equals abuse, but in violent relationships, these traits can intensify harm.

the Constitution and the National Prosecuting Authority Act provide the Prosecuting
Authority with the power to institute criminal proceedings on behalf of the State and to perform the necessary tasks
in support of this function. This includes supporting the investigation of a case, or discontinuing criminal proceedings
where necessary.

Negging is a form of emotional manipulation where someone gives insults disguised as jokes or compliments to lower a person’s confidence and gain power over them. Negging is designed to make someone seek approval from the person insulting them.

Example: Saying, “You’re actually pretty for someone who doesn’t wear makeup,” or “Most people wouldn’t date you, but I’m not shallow.”

Neglect is the failure to provide basic care, supervision, emotional support, or protection. It can affect children, elderly individuals, or vulnerable adults.

Neglect may include failing to provide food, medical care, safe shelter, emotional attention, or protection from harm. Emotional neglect can be just as damaging as physical neglect.

Neglect happens when a family member, who has a duty to care for you, fails to provide you with your basic needs.

This can involve:

not providing proper food or warm clothing
failing to provide adequate health care, medication and personal hygiene (if needed)
failing to prevent physical harm
failing to ensure proper supervision (if needed)
Spouses and common-law partners have a duty to care for each other. Adults have a duty to care for their dependent children as well as their dependent parents.

Some forms of neglect are crimes in Canada, including failure to provide the necessities of life and child abandonment. If a child is neglected, child protection authorities could intervene and remove the child from his or her parents.

A prosecutor’s decision to decline to prosecute.

Non-Consensual Distribution of Intimate Images (NCDII) is the sharing, posting, forwarding, or threatening to share sexual or nude images or videos of someone without their permission. It does not matter whether the images were originally shared consensually in a private relationship; once they are shared without consent, it becomes abuse.

NCDII is a serious violation of privacy, dignity, and safety. It is often used as a tool of control, humiliation, blackmail, or revenge, especially after a breakup. The emotional impact can be severe and may include anxiety, depression, fear, reputational harm, and social isolation. If you would like to better understand your rights, protection options, and how the legal process works, visit our Legal Guides for comprehensive, step-by-step information.

Example:
• Sharing an ex-partner’s nude photo in a WhatsApp group.
• Posting private images on social media to embarrass someone.
• Threatening to leak intimate photos unless money, sex, or silence is given.
In South Africa, sharing intimate images without consent is a criminal offence under the Films and Publications Amendment Act (2019). A convicted person may be fined or imprisoned.

Individuals who are not in an intimate or marital relationship with the person in question. This includes, but is not limited to, family members (other than a spouse or intimate partner), friends, acquaintances, colleagues, and strangers.

Nonbinary is an umbrella term to reflect a variety of gender identities that are not exclusively man or woman. It is sometimes called enby* for short (a phonetic spelling of the letters N-B).

“Given that the common feature shared by the identities falling under the trans umbrella is having a societally unexpected experience with gender, many nonbinary folks consider the nonbinary umbrella a sub-category within the trans umbrella. However, some nonbinary individuals describe their gender experience as being totally distinct from the trans experience, that is, as a separate umbrella entirely.