physical violence

Society

2022

We explain what physical violence is and how it is distinguished from psychological, verbal and sexual violence. Also, definition and examples.

Physical violence directly affects the body of another person.

What is physical violence?

For violence It is understood as a form of interaction that causes or threatens to cause harm of some kind to another, whether through subjection, humiliation, physical or psychological harm.

In fact, according to World Health Organization, violence is defined as “the intentional use of physical force and / or threats against oneself, another person, a group of people or a community, which has as a very likely consequence risks for health, psychological damage or death”.

Violence can be exercised in many ways, actively, through silence, or it can be part of legitimate defense, the only case in which it is tolerated or justified by the law. moral and for the jurisprudence. Traditionally, it is attributed to Condition the monopoly of violence, exercised through its agencies, with the exception of the wars and other exceptions.

In this sense, physical violence is the form of violence that affects the body and physical force: corporal punishment, capable of causing pain or even death, as well as traumatic feelings and humiliation.

Physical violence occurs when a person transgresses the body space of the other without their consent, either by subjecting them to blows, pulling or shoving, or by locking them up, causing them physical injuries with some type of object (lethal or not), or forcing them to have some kind of sexual intercourse.

Examples of physical violence

Some examples of physical violence can be:

  • Beatings, assaults with melee weapons, run over by vehicles or physical assaults of any kind.
  • Shooting with a firearm.
  • Rapes (non-consensual sexual acts), regardless of the sex or sexual orientation of both victim and perpetrator.
  • Physical punishments that inflict pain, bodily suffering or that cause health problems.

Psychological violence

By psychological violence is understood a set of behaviors or behaviors destined to cause in others some type of emotional or psychic suffering, constituting acts of true psychological aggression.

These acts, intentional or not, reduce the victim, violate his self-esteem or subject him to derision, humiliation or other forms of non-physical suffering, that is, without actually harming the victim's body. If it becomes recurrent, psychological violence can turn into psychological abuse.

This type of violence can be:

  • Active. For example, a person insults, diminishes or attacks another emotionally and psychologically.
  • Passive For example, one person withdraws attention from the other, especially when it requires it, or subjects it to emotional abandonment.

In both cases, psychological violence can be an advertisement for physical violence, especially in relationships or relationships. relatives, whether it occurs as part of an untimely reaction or prompted by the alcohol or other substances.

Verbal violence

Verbal violence can be part of psychological violence.

Verbal violence is the name given to aggression against another person through language, that is, uttering profanity, obscene or insulting words, or referring to the other person in degrading terms, aimed at reducing their self esteem, to humiliate her or expose her to third parties.

It is often difficult to determine and discern a simple conflict between two people, but if it becomes recurrent it can lead to verbal abuse, especially in relationships, family or work.

Verbal violence usually accompanies psychological violence and physical violence, but it may well occur without ever physical contact or emotional implications between people. For example, it is exercised when two strangers who insult each other from their respective cars after almost colliding with each other.

Sexual violence

When we speak of sexual violence, we refer to sexual abuse, that is, non-consensual, forced or imposed sexual relations on the other. It also applies to sexual practices that are humiliating, humiliating or that cause physical ailments or risk to the lifeeven if they take place between consenting adults.

This type of violent actions can be carried out with the body itself or with objects. They can occur within or outside of an emotional or family relationship, and are often accompanied by other forms of abuse, such as psychological, verbal and emotional.

The mistreatment of the woman, or towards homosexuals or transgender is also a form of sexual violence, which is usually accompanied by “corrective” rapes (especially in the case of homosexuals) or humiliation, derision and other forms of emotional, physical and psychological trauma.

!-- GDPR -->