effects of violence

VIOLENCE AND ABUSE

I. Violence and Abuse

A. Violence refers to interpersonal uses of force that are not socially sanctioned. Such violence occurs when at least one person intentionally applies or threatens physical force

on others.

B. Most physical violence in America could be regarded as nonsexual crimes against persons.

C. Assault is the intentional use of force to injure another person physically.

D. Abuse occurs when one takes advantage of a relationship to mistreat a person, often by use of serious or frequent threats of force.

1. Examples include spouse abuse, child abuse, elder abuse, and sexual harassment.

II. How Violence Affects Health

A. Many people who seek treatment in hospital emergency rooms are victims of violence.

B. Homicide is the second leading cause of death for Americans ages 15 to 24 years of age.

C. Victims of violence usually experience some degree of psychological damage. 1. The psychological effects of violence include anxiety and depression, which

can result in substance abuse, eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts.

D. A possible social effect is the intergenerational transmission of violence, in which abused children mature and become abusive parents, perpetuating family violence.

III. What Causes Violent Behavior?

A. Factors that contribute to violence include frustration, exposure to violence, violence in the home or neighborhood, and a tendency to see other people’s actions as hostile, even

then are not.

B. In many instances, however, violence is learned behavior. 1. Children who are exposed to violence in their homes are more likely to be

abusive or violent as adults.

C. Numerous studies have found an association between viewing violence in the media and aggressive behavior that remains over time.

IV. Major Types of Violence and Abuse

A. Sexual Violence

1. Sexual violence involves some type of sexual activity gained through force, threat of force, or coercion.

2. Rape is sexual intercourse by force or with a person who is incapable of legal consent. In most cases, a woman is raped by someone she knows, particularly

a current or former husband, cohabiting partner, date, or boyfriend.

3. Although men are not as likely to be raped as women, they are usually raped by male strangers and acquaintances.

4. One out of 6 American women and 1 out of 33 American men have been victims of an attempted or completed rape at some time in their lives.

5. 1 in 36 female college students are victims of a completed or attempted rape during an academic year.

6. Marital rape refers to the use or threat of violence against one’s spouse to force sexual activity.

7. Acquaintance rape is forced sexual activity that occurs between unmarried adults who know each other.

8. Date rape is forced sexual activity that occurs between unmarried adults who are in a dating relationship.

9. Reporting Sexual Assault a. There are many reasons why rape victims do not report their

experiences to the authorities, including feeling ashamed or

embarrassed, among other reasons

b. These examples highlight the social stigma associated with sexual assaults, in which victim-blaming may occur.

c. Many organizations, including RAINN, combat social stigmas and provide education about the impact of sexual assault.

d. Sexual assault victims may obtain immediate medical attention for their injuries. Hospital emergency rooms often have staff who are

trained to respond to sexual assault victims with sensitivity and In

addition, hospital staff can treat physical injuries, or administer testing

for sexually transmitted infections. Medication to prevent pregnancy,

and counseling to cope with sexual assault are also available.

e. Refer students to the Managing Your Health box, “Sexual Assault: Reducing Your Risk.”

B. Family Violence

1. Family or domestic violence is a pattern of behavior characterized by physical assaults including sexual violence; psychological/emotional abuse; and threats

to cause harm that occur between family members, couples in intimate

relationships, or unrelated individuals who live together.

2. Intimate partner violence involves actual or threatened physical or sexual violence, as well as emotional abuse, by a spouse, ex-spouse,

boyfriend/girlfriend, former boyfriend/girlfriend, or date.

a. While men and women can commit IPV, men are more likely to seriously injure their female partner.

b. In many cases, perpetrators of IPV emotionally abuse their partners for a period before they become overtly violent toward them.

c. Certain behaviors often indicate danger of intimate partner violence

C. Sexual Harassment

1. Sexual harassment is the intentional use of unwelcome and offensive sexually related comments or behaviors to intimidate people or coerce them into

unwanted sexual activity.

2. Sexual harassment can happen anywhere.. 3. Many educational institutions and businesses have policies concerning sexual

harassment that follow guidelines established by the federal government’s

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

D. Stalking

1. A stalker willfully and repeatedly follows and harasses another individual. 2. Stalking behavior typically includes following the targeted individual,

hanging around this person's home, making harassing or threatening phone

calls, leaving threatening voicemail or electronic messages, or vandalizing his

or her property.

3. Most stalkers are lonely, emotionally disturbed males who have been rejected by their partners.

4. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 13 men report being stalked at some point in their lives. 5. If the stalker uses unwelcome emails or text messages to harass you

(cyberstalking), contact your Internet service or cell phone service provider

(ISP) for help.

E. Community Violence

1. Community violence occurs in public settings such as street corners, bars, or public places.

2. Among youths, community violence often takes the form of gang violence. 3. Typical members of gangs are males between the ages of 8 and 24. 4. Gang-related criminal activities include armed robberies, drug trafficking, car

theft, identity theft, and murder.

F. Institutional Violence

1. School Violence a. Most acts of institutional violence occur in schools.

2. Violence on College Campuses a. The Student Right to Know and Campus Security Act requires

administrators of colleges and universities that receive federal funds to

report information concerning the number of murders, assaults, rapes,

and other specific crimes that take place on their campuses.

G. Workplace Violence

1. Workplace violence is any act of violence or abuse directed toward an individual who is performing his or her job.

2. Any workplace can be a setting for violence. The most dangerous types of workplaces are psychiatric hospitals and prisons.

3. Employees with the highest risk of being murdered while working are cab drivers, convenience store attendants, police, and security guards.

4. Workers who are most likely to resort to violence are men between the ages of 25 and 40 who are loners, have marital and other family problems, appear

angry and paranoid, abuse alcohol and/or other drugs, and blame others for

their problems.

More recently, incidents of violence have increased on US military bases.

H. Terrorism

1. The intentional violent acts against civilians to produce extreme fear, severe property damage, and numerous deaths.

2. Terrorists may attack specific cultural or political symbols and attempt to frighten the general population to make them feel vulnerable and helpless.

3. The arsenal of terrorist weapons includes poisonous chemicals, life- threatening infectious agents such an anthrax, hijacked planes as guided

missiles, and explosives.

V. Assessing Your Risk of Violence

A. Family disruption is a major risk factor for domestic and community violence. 1. Family disruption may be the result of parental conflict that leads to separation,

divorce, or desertion; it also can stem from the presence of a parent with a

criminal, alcohol, or drug use history.

2. Neighborhood conditions, such as high rates of unemployment, can lead to high rates of family disruption.

B. The availability of drugs and guns enormously escalates the likelihood of serious injury or death in violent situations.

C. Factors that increase youth’s risk for engaging in violence include a history of violence, poor grades, drug use, and poor family functioning.

D. Certain individuals are more likely than others to find themselves in places and situations in which violence is more likely to occur.

1. Age and gender are major risk factors. People under 25 years of age are more likely to become involved in violence than older persons.

2. Men are more likely to be arrested for perpetrating crimes of violence; they are also more likely to be the victims of such crimes.

3. Women, however, are more likely to be killed by their spouses than men. 4. Race and ethnicity are two other characteristics strongly related to

involvement in violent incidents.

VI. Preventing and Avoiding Violence

A. Refer students to the Managing Your Health box (“Going Out: Safety Tips”).

B. Also, refer them to the Changing Health Habits activity in the student workbook, which can help them identify and change habits that may increase their risk of becoming

victims of violence.

C. The “Assessing Your Anger” activity in the student workbook can help students identify situations that make them angry and lead to violence.

D. Home Security Measures a. In many break-ins, the intruder simply came through an unlocked door or

window.

b. Lock the door immediately after entering your home or dorm room

E. Community Safety Measures a. If you live in a dangerous neighborhood, consider moving to a safer one if you

can. This is the most effective measure you can take to avoid violence.

b. Avoid isolated places, especially when you are alone. Jogging trails in parks, deserted buildings, infrequently used sections of libraries, and nearly empty

parking lots and garages are places where violent incidents are likely to occur.

c. A considerable percentage of violent crimes, especially sexual assaults, happen between 6 p.m. and midnight. Thus, if you must go out at night, do not go alone.

F. Reducing the Risk of Violence while in a Car a. As soon as you enter your car, lock the doors. b. Do not give rides to strangers or stop to help others. c. If you are involved in a minor accident, stay in your car; call the police, and keep

the doors locked and the windows rolled up until they arrive.

d. If someone demands that you surrender your car, do not argue with or resist the person: Get out of the car and quickly move away from the area.

e. If a driver tailgates your car, flashes high beams at you, or makes angry gestures, do not stop to discuss the matter. Drive to a police station.

G. Workplace Safety Measures a. Learn your company’s security measures, for example, the locations of fire

alarms so you can activate one in case of any trouble.

b. Keep your cell phone with you at all times.

H. Self Protection 1. Sometimes, running away is the best means of escaping threatening situations. 2. The opposite response is to fight by making counter threats or by physically

attacking another person.

3. Ask students: “Should victims always resist their attackers?” a. No uniform answer can be given. Each potential victim must assess

each situation to decide how best to respond under the circumstances.

VII. Reporting Violence

A. If a person is attacked, they must decide whether to report the incident.

B. Attempted and/or completed crimes should be reported to the police who have specially trained violence and sexual assault units that provide sympathetic and appropriate

responses.

C. Early treatment of emotional distress may avert some of the longer-term psychological effects of violent victimization.

D. If you have been a victim of violence while attending college, you often can obtain referrals to appropriate psychological services through your campus student health center.

VIII. Across the Life Span: Violence and Abuse

A. Child Physical Abuse a. Child Physical Abuse includes beating, squeezing, burning, cutting, suffocating,

binding, and poisoning a child who is under 18 years of age.

b. Parents and other adults known to the victims, such as neighbors, babysitters, and family friends, commit most acts of physical violence against children.

c. Child sexual abuse refers to sexual activity involving a child that takes place as a result of force or threat, or by taking advantage of an age difference or care-taking

relationship.

d. A pedophile is an individual who is sexually aroused by fantasizing about or by having physical contact with vulnerable children.

e. A molester acts on his fantasies and sexually abuses a child. f. Most child abusers are heterosexual males with female targets between 8 and 10

years old.

g. Most cases involve adults whom the children know and trust. h. Incest refers to sexual experiences between family members who are not married

to each other.

i. To prevent child sexual abuse, parents should teach their young children how to recognize and report sexual abuse, regardless of their relationships with

perpetrators.

B. Elder Abuse a. Elder abuse is the use of physical or sexual violence against an elderly person. b. Some researchers include verbal threats and neglect in their definitions. c. Elderly persons are most likely to be victimized by their spouses or adult children

who must care for them.

d. In severe cases, violence against the elderly is associated with certain mental illnesses or alcohol abuse.