Violence has many faces, going unnoticed in the eyes of everyone on many occasions.
However, violence can manifest itself in many ways and for longer periods of time than physical aggression. There is violence that can go on for years without anyone noticing, and many victims suffer in silence without knowing how to ask for help.
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What is violence?
Violence is a non-consensual intrusion into someone’s life that affects their dignity and rights . This broad meaning must be attended to in order to understand the scope of violence, since there are many people who do not identify certain violent behaviors.
The characterization of physical violence is obvious, but others are often culturally tolerated if they are within “limits”. However, understanding violence implies understanding that there are no limits or borders.
Unfortunately, it is a problem that affects millions of people around the planet and has many faces. It is expressed from the bloodiest in wars with weapons to the modern offices of the most developed country.
Violence is learned in the cultural context in which one grows up, being reproduced because of the validation of the environment. Fortunately, it is never too late to unlearn this problem that affects us all as a society.
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Types of violence: 8 forms of aggression towards a person
It is important to know well the different forms of violence that exist . Those who know them are in a position to help when it comes to nipping the problem at the root and preventing certain circles of violence from reproducing.
Below are the different types of violence that exist, that is, the different forms of aggression towards a person. Family, friends and professionals are key in many occasions in which the victim manages to face the situation on their own, so it is a suitable reading for everyone.
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1. Physical violence
Physical violence is any action in which a person is physically attacked . Pushing, hitting, forcing movements, spitting, biting, pulling hair or breaking objects for intimidating purposes are some of the examples of this type of violence. It can lead to the death of the victim, and is the most easily recognized by society.
2. Carnal violence
Carnal violence represents any abuse of a person’s privacy . It is a type of violence that represents a coercive and restrictive force in terms of the person’s choice. Scandals of child abuse periodically come to light, these being one of the most vulnerable groups, but not the only ones (women, people with special needs, the elderly, etc.).
3. Psychological violence
Psychological violence is one of the types of violence that can go unnoticed . It can cause great suffering to the victim and manifests itself in different ways: distortion of objective reality, contempt, persecutory behavior or stalking, deprivation of rights, fear, etc. On many occasions it precedes and accompanies physical violence.
4. Economic violence
Economic violence represents a common type of violence in many homes . It is about the economic restriction of some member of the family, often being the woman (and more or less directly even the children). Many women are forced to stay at home and/or have to ask their husband for money, who controls the accounts and documents relating to the family finances.
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5. Family violence
Family violence encompasses different types of aggression against members of a family . It can be expressed through any of the previous options, but it is classified separately because it can go further. For example, it can represent the well-known gender violence or that suffered indirectly by children. A son who sees his father hit his mother is a type of violence that the son also suffers for the mere fact of being an observer.
6. Self-inflicted violence
Self-inflicted violence is that which a person imposes on himself . Until now, interpersonal violence had been discussed, but aggression can also be directed at oneself. Self-injurious behavior can take many forms, and sometimes a person may engage in physical self-injurious behavior to escape harmful thoughts that they may view as self-inflicted psychological violence.
7. Collective violence
Collective violence is directed at a group of people . Therefore, it differs from those previously seen, and it can be expressed in different ways. A very clear example is what is known as religious violence, in which a group of people can suffer attacks of different kinds from the organization in which they profess their faith.
8. Negligent violence
Violence due to negligence is an aggression that sometimes also goes unnoticed . It is a type of violence that is expressed through the omission of the obligations that one assumes to guarantee the well-being of another person. It usually occurs in victims who are children or the elderly. Special emphasis is placed on the fact of attacking the physical well-being of the victim, although it can also be emotional.
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Bibliographic references
- Galtung, J. (1998). After the violence 3R: reconstruction, reconciliation, resolution, coping with the visible and invisible effects of war and violence. Bilbao: Bakeaz (Gernika Gogoratuz).
- Sanmartín, J. (2000), Violence and its keys. Barcelona: Ariel.
- Schechter , DS and Willheim , E. (2009). The Effects of Violent Experience and Maltreatment on Infants and Young Children. In: CH Zeanah (Ed.). Handbook of Infant Mental Health (Third edition). New York: Guilford Press, Inc.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.