Question

When pat and terry argue, pat's all-too-frequent strategy is to belittle terry for getting pregnant at an early age, dropping out of high school, and giving up her baby for adoption. pat knows these are sensitive?

Answer 1

What Pat is doing to Terrry is called Beltlining. This is a strategy for conflict that is unproductive and interpersonal. One person throws emotional or psychological blows that they know the other person cannot withstand.