Usually it just pushes them to more abusive behavior in order to regain the control they MUST have in the relationship. In a few cases, an abuser might wake up to how his behavior is affecting his family and try to change. But, there's no predicting how an abuser will react. You might find it helpful to attend some support groups or speak to an abuse counselor. Call your local shelter and ask about counseling and support groups.
Most shelters recognize the importance of emotional abuse.
Simply ask to speak to a counselor - you may be able to get a lot of questions answered on the phone. It's very difficult to decide what to do about this sort of abuse. You could go along for many years managing to deal with his outbursts. The real question is whether it's worth it for what you receive from the relationship. Helps explain the different perspectives of the victim and the abuser.