What is the term for false and harmful attacks on someone's character?

The term that encompasses false and harmful attacks on someone's character is defamation. Defamation refers to the act of communicating false statements about an individual that can damage their reputation. This can occur in two forms: libel and slander.

Libel specifically pertains to defamatory statements made in a fixed medium, such as writing or broadcasting, while slander relates to spoken defamatory statements. Both forms fall under the umbrella of defamation, as they involve the intention to harm someone's reputation through false information.

Harassment, on the other hand, refers to unwanted and abusive behavior that causes distress or alarm but does not necessarily involve falsifying statements about someone's character. Therefore, identifying the broader term of defamation is essential, as it captures the essence of character attacks through various methods of communication.