Violence is defined by the World Health Organization as "the intentional use of physical force

or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community,
which either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm,
maldevelopment, or deprivation", although the group acknowledges that the inclusion of "the use of
power" in its definition expands on the conventional meaning of the word. [2] This definition involves
intentionality with the committing of the act itself, irrespective of the outcome it produces. However,
generally, anything that is excited in an injurious or damaging way may be described as violent even
if not meant to be violence (by a person and against a person).
The most prevalent cause of death in interpersonal violence is assault with a firearm (180,000),
followed by a sharp object (114,000). Other means contribute to another 110,000 deaths. [3]
Violence in many forms is preventable. There is a strong relationship between levels of violence and
modifiable factors such asconcentrated poverty, income and gender inequality, the harmful use of
alcohol, and the absence of safe, stable, and nurturing relationships between children and parents.
Strategies addressing the underlying causes of violence can be effective in preventing violence. [4]
Globally, violence resulted in the death of 1.28 million people in 2013 up from 1.13 million in 1990.
[3]

842,000 were due to suicide, 405,000 were due to homicide, and 31,000 were due to war.[3] In

Africa, out of every 100,000 people, each year an estimated 60.9 die a violent death. [5] Corlin, past
president of the American Medical Association said: "The United States leads the worldin the rate
at which its children die from firearms." He concluded: "Gun violence is a threat to the public health
of our country."[6] For each single death due to violence, there are dozens of hospitalizations,
hundreds of emergency department visits, and thousands of doctors' appointments. [7] Furthermore,
violence often has lifelong consequences for physical and mental health and social functioning and
can slow economic and social development.
Violence is defined by the World Health Organization as "the intentional use of physical force
or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community,
which either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm,
maldevelopment, or deprivation", although the group acknowledges that the inclusion of "the use of
power" in its definition expands on the conventional meaning of the word. [2] This definition involves
intentionality with the committing of the act itself, irrespective of the outcome it produces. However,
generally, anything that is excited in an injurious or damaging way may be described as violent even
if not meant to be violence (by a person and against a person).
The most prevalent cause of death in interpersonal violence is assault with a firearm (180,000),
followed by a sharp object (114,000). Other means contribute to another 110,000 deaths. [3]

Violence in many forms is preventable. There is a strong relationship between levels of violence and
modifiable factors such asconcentrated poverty, income and gender inequality, the harmful use of
alcohol, and the absence of safe, stable, and nurturing relationships between children and parents.
Strategies addressing the underlying causes of violence can be effective in preventing violence. [4]
Globally, violence resulted in the death of 1.28 million people in 2013 up from 1.13 million in 1990.
[3]

842,000 were due to suicide, 405,000 were due to homicide, and 31,000 were due to war.[3] In

Africa, out of every 100,000 people, each year an estimated 60.9 die a violent death. [5] Corlin, past
president of the American Medical Association said: "The United States leads the worldin the rate
at which its children die from firearms." He concluded: "Gun violence is a threat to the public health
of our country."[6] For each single death due to violence, there are dozens of hospitalizations,
hundreds of emergency department visits, and thousands of doctors' appointments. [7] Furthermore,
violence often has lifelong consequences for physical and mental health and social functioning and
can slow economic and social development.

Types[edit]

Typology of violence[2]

Violence can be divided into three broad categories: [2]

self-directed violence

interpersonal violence

collective violence

Violent acts can be:

physical

sexual

psychological

emotional

This initial categorization differentiates between violence a person inflicts upon himself or herself,
violence inflicted by another individual or by a small group of individuals, and violence inflicted by
larger groups such as states, organized political groups, militia groups and terrorist organizations.
These three broad categories are each divided further to reflect more specific types of violence.
Violence is primarily classified as either instrumental or reactive / hostile. [8]

Self-directed violence[edit]
Self-directed violence is subdivided into suicidal behaviour and self-abuse. The former
includes suicidal thoughts, attempted suicides also called para suicide or deliberate self-injury in
some countries and completed suicides. Self-abuse, in contrast, includes acts such as selfmutilation.

Collective violence[edit]
Collective violence is subdivided into structural violence and economic violence. Unlike the other two
broad categories, the subcategories of collective violence suggest possible motives for violence
committed by larger groups of individuals or by states. Collective violence that is committed to
advance a particular social agenda includes, for example, crimes of hate committed by organized
groups, terrorist acts and mob violence. Political violence includes war and related violent conflicts,
state violence and similar acts carried out by larger groups. Economic violence includes attacks by
larger groups motivated by economic gain such as attacks carried out with the purpose of
disrupting economic activity, denying access to essential services, or creating economic division and
fragmentation. Clearly, acts committed by larger groups can have multiple motives.
This typology, while imperfect and far from being universally accepted, does provide a useful
framework for understanding the complex patterns of violence taking place around the world, as well
as violence in the everyday lives of individuals, families and communities. It also overcomes many of
the limitations of other typologies by capturing the nature of violent acts, the relevance of the setting,
the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim, and in the case of collective violence
possible motivations for the violence. However, in both research and practice, the dividing lines
between the different types of violence are not always so clear.

Warfare[edit]
Main article: War

A United States M8 Greyhoundarmoured car in Paris during World War II

War is a state of prolonged violent large-scale conflict involving two or more groups of people,
usually under the auspices of government. It is the most extreme form of collective violence. [9] War is
fought as a means of resolving territorial and other conflicts, as war of aggressionto conquer territory
or loot resources, in national self-defence or liberation, or to suppress attempts of part of the nation
to secede from it. We know also ideological, religious and revolutionary wars.[10]
Since the Industrial Revolution, the lethality of modern warfare has grown. World War I
casualties were over 40 million and World War II casualties were over 70 million.

Non-physical[edit]
Violence includes those acts that result from a power relationship, including threats
and intimidation, neglect or acts of omission. Such non-physical violence has a broad range of
outcomes including psychological harm, deprivation and maldevelopment. Violence may not
necessarily result in injury or death, but nonetheless poses a substantial burden on individuals,
families, communities and health care systems worldwide. Many forms of violence against women,
children and the elderly, for instance, can result in physical, psychological and social problems that
do not necessarily lead to injury, disability or death. These consequences can be immediate, as well
as latent, and can last for years after the initial abuse. Defining outcomes solely in terms of injury or
death thus limits the understanding of the full impact of violence. [2]

Interpersonal violence[edit]
Interpersonal violence is divided into two subcategories: Family and intimate partner violence that
is, violence largely between family members and intimate partners, usually, though not exclusively,
taking place in the home. Community violence violence between individuals who are unrelated,
and who may or may not know each other, generally taking place outside the home. The former
group includes forms of violence such as child abuse, intimate partner violence and abuse of the

elderly. The latter includes youth violence, random acts of violence, rape or sexual assault by
strangers, and violence in institutional settings such as schools, workplaces, prisons and nursing
homes. When interpersonal violence occurs in families, its psychological consequences can affect
parents, children, and their relationship in the short- and long-terms.[11]
Child maltreatment[edit]
Main article: Child abuse
Child maltreatment is the abuse and neglect that occurs to children under 18 years of age. It
includes all types of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect,negligence and
commercial or other child exploitation, which results in actual or potential harm to the childs health,
survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.
Exposure to intimate partner violence is also sometimes included as a form of child maltreatment [12]
Child maltreatment is a global problem with serious lifelong consequences, which is, however,
complex and difficult to study.[13]
There are no reliable global estimates for the prevalence of child maltreatment. Data for many
countries, especially low- and middle-income countries, are lacking. Current estimates vary widely
depending on the country and the method of research used. Approximately 20% of women and 5
10% of men report being sexually abused as children, while 2550% of all children report being
physically abused.[2][14]
Consequences of child maltreatment include impaired lifelong physical and mental health, and social
and occupational functioning (e.g. school, job, and relationship difficulties). These can ultimately
slow a country's economic and social development. [15][16] Preventing child maltreatment before it starts
is possible and requires a multisectoral approach. Effective prevention programmes support parents
and teach positive parenting skills. Ongoing care of children and families can reduce the risk of
maltreatment reoccurring and can minimize its consequences.[17][18]
Youth violence[edit]

The Kids off the Block memorial featuring hundreds of simple stone blocks, one for each child killed by violence
in Roseland, Chicago

Following the World Health Organization, youth are defined as people between the ages of 10 and
29 years. Youth violence refers to violence occurring between youths, and includes acts that range
from bullying and physical fighting, through more severe sexual and physical assault to homicide. [19]
Worldwide some 250,000 homicides occur among youth 1029 years of age each year, which is
41% of the total number of homicides globally each year ("Global Burden of Disease", World Health
Organization, 2008). For each young person killed, 20-40 more sustain injuries requiring hospital
treatment.[19] Youth violence has a serious, often lifelong, impact on a person's psychological and
social functioning. Youth violence greatly increases the costs of health, welfare and criminal justice
services; reduces productivity; decreases the value of property; and generally undermines the fabric
of society.
Prevention programmes shown to be effective or to have promise in reducing youth violence include
life skills and social development programmes designed to help children and adolescents manage
anger, resolve conflict, and develop the necessary social skills to solve problems; schools-based
anti-bullying prevention programmes; and programmes to reduce access to alcohol, illegal drugs and
guns.[20]Also, given significant neighbourhood effects on youth violence, interventions involving
relocating families to less poor environments have shown promising results. [21] Similarly, urban
renewal projects such as business improvement districts have shown a reduction in youth violence

HOW CAN WE PREVENT VIOLENT BEHAVIOR?

by Jennifer Birckmayer, Department of Human Development and Family Studies,
New York State College of Human Ecology, Cornell
The escalation of violence in our society worries many thoughtful people. The
tragedies in Bosnia, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Haiti are examples of nightmarish events in
the international community. Statistics on homicides and other violent crimes now
indicate that the United States has become the most violent country among
industrialized nations.
We all want to make sense of dramatic, terrifying events and trends. Finding
explanations can help us regain a sense of control, giving us a psychological distance
and thereby reducing fears for our own safety. Escalating societal violence is not an
issue with a single cause, however, or even with a single set of causes. Among the
significant contributors are poverty, racism, unemployment, illegal drugs, inadequate
parenting practices, and adult models of violent behavior in real life and in the media.
Sometimes it's difficult to remember that the problem has multiple causes when
prestigious people and organizations lend weight to one view, perhaps unwittingly
distorting the total picture.

For example, two Surgeon Generals, the American Medical Association, the American
Pediatric Association, the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, and the American
Psychological Association are cited by Prothrow-Smith in her book, "Deadly
Consequences," as championing the view that violence on TV helps cause aggressive
behavior. We need to remind ourselves that not every person who watches violence on
TV becomes violent--and we need to understand why this is so. What are the factors
or buffers that keep many children and adults from behaving violently under exactly
the same circumstances that provoke others to violence?
A panel convened by the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Justice,
and Centers for Disease Control concluded that " . . . research suggests that violence
arises from the interactions among individuals' psychosocial development, their
neurological and hormonal differences, and social processes. Consequently we have
no basis for considering any of these 'levels of explanation' more fundamental than the
others" (Reiss 1993, 102).
So, if there is no single explanation for violent behavior, is there a single set of
recommendations for what we can do to alleviate it? There are many such sets, but the
one that seems best comes from a recent symposium, "Violence: Its Causes and
Curses,"* sponsored by the Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter.
Twelve national experts suggested that we
-treat violence as a public health issue
-reach kids as early as possible (and train them to get along with people in nonviolent
ways)
-teach conflict resolution to everyone
-ban handguns
-ban corporal punishment
-promote responsible children's television programming
-invest money and programs in communities at risk for violence
-start a national day care program that includes parent education
-create more jobs and vocational programs
-coordinate communication among youth, parents, schools, police, and communities
-keep schools small
-find the few habitual, violent offenders who are responsible for most of the violence
and separate them from the general public
The actions each of us takes to reduce violence are matters of individual conscience,
skills, resources, and opportunities. Some of us can select one area in which to expend
our personal energies by, for example, lobbying for responsible children's
programming on television; others may contribute in several different ways, perhaps
by volunteering to help with conflict resolution programs at a local school, becoming

informed about the advantages of small schools, and sharing information with
community residents and school board members, or becoming a mentor for a teenaged
parent. The contributions each of us can make at the local level are important
components of what must become a national effort to reduce violence.
Children learn to be civilized by watching adults behave in civilized ways. But it is
not enough (although it's a step in the right direction) for us to demonstrate behaviors
that are merely socially acceptable. We must also demonstrate how to be caring,
compassionate, and kind to our own children, to our friends' children, to children at
risk of becoming violent or of becoming victims, etc.--in other words, to all children.
*The symposium's proceedings are available in print and audiotape. Contact:
Newsletter Book Service 1-800-382-0602 for cost and ordering information.
References:
The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Newsletter. 1994. Violence: Its
Causes and Cures (Transcript of symposium held on February 28, 1994, at Brown
University). Newsletter Book Service, 919 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314.
Garbarino, James. 1993. Let's Talk About Living in a World with Violence. Erikson
Institute, 420 N. Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611.
Melso, Gail F., and Alan Fogel. 1988. "The Development of Nurturance in Young
Children." Young Children, March.
National Association for the Education of Young Children. 1994. NAEYC Position
Statement on Violence in the Lives of Children. 1509 16th St. NW, Washington, DC
20036-1426.
Osofsky, Joy D., and Emily Fenichel, Eds. 1993/1994. Caring for Infants and Toddlers
in Violent Environments: Hurt, Healing, and Hope. Zero to Three, Vol. 14, No. 3
(Dec-Jan). 2000 14th St. North, Suite 380, Arlington, VA 22201-2500.
Prothrow-Smith, Deborah. 1991. Deadly Consequences. New York: Harper.
Reiss, Albert J., Jr., and Jeffrey A. Roth, Eds. 1993. Understanding and Preventing
Violence. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
Cornell Cooperative Extension has many publications and videotapes to help you
address child development and nonviolence. "Discipline Is Not a Dirty Word,"
"Infants and Parents," "Family Matters," and "Teen-Parent Communication" are only a

few of the dozens of titles designed to help. Contact the Media Services Resource
Center, 8 Cornell Business and Technology Park, Ithaca, NY 14850 for a free list of
child development titles.