We explain what physical violence is and how it is distinguished from psychological, verbal and sexual violence. Also, definition and examples.
What is physical violence?
Violence is understood as a form of interaction that causes or threatens to cause harm of some kind to another, whether through submission, humiliation, physical or psychological harm.
In fact, according to the 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 probable consequence health risks, psychological damage or death.”
Violence can be exercised in many waysactively, through silence, or it can be part of self-defense, the only case in which it is tolerated or justified by morality and jurisprudence. Traditionally, the State is attributed the monopoly of violence, exercised through its agencies, with the exception of wars and other exceptions.
In that sense, the physical violence It is the form of violence that affects the body and physical strength: corporal punishment, capable of causing pain or even death, as well as feelings of trauma and humiliation.
Physical violence occurs when one person transgresses the body space of another without their consenteither by subjecting her to blows, pulling or pushing, or by locking her up, causing physical injuries with some type of object (lethal or not), or forcing her to have some type of sexual relations.
Examples of physical violence
Some examples of physical violence may be:
- Beatings, assaults with melee weapons, run over with vehicles or physical attacks of any kind.
- Firearm shooting.
- Rape (non-consensual sexual acts), regardless of the sex or sexual orientation of both the victim and the perpetrator.
- Physical punishments that inflict pain, bodily suffering or cause health problems.
Psychological violence
Psychological violence includes set of behaviors or behaviors intended to cause some type of emotional suffering in others or psychological, constituting acts of true psychological aggression.
These acts, intentional or not, reduce the victim, violate their self-esteem or subject them to ridicule, humiliation or other forms of non-physical suffering, that is, without actually hurting the victim's body. If it becomes recurrent, psychological violence can lead to psychological abuse..
This type of violence can be:
- Active. For example, a person insults, diminishes, or emotionally and psychologically attacks another.
- Passive. For example, one person withdraws attention from the other, especially when they need it, or subjects them to emotional abandonment.
In both cases, psychological violence can be a harbinger of physical violence, especially in relationships or family relationships, whether it occurs as part of an untimely reaction or driven by alcohol or other substances.
Verbal violence
Verbal violence is the name it receives aggression against another person through languagethat is, uttering profane, obscene or insulting words, or referring to the other person in degrading terms, aimed at reducing their self-esteem, humiliating them or exposing them to third parties.
It is often difficult to determine and discern from a simple conflict between two people, but If it becomes recurrent, it can lead to verbal abuse.especially in relationships, family or work environments.
verbal violence usually accompanies psychological violence and physical violencebut it may well occur without there ever being physical contact or emotional implications between people. For example, it is exercised when two strangers insult each other from their respective cars after almost crashing into each other.
Sexual violence
When we talk about sexual violence, we are referring to sexual abuse, that is, to 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 life, even if carried out between consenting adults.
These types of violent actions can be carried out with one's own body or with objects. They can occur inside or outside an emotional or family relationship, and are usually accompanied by other forms of abuse, such as psychological, verbal and emotional.
Abuse towards women, or towards homosexuals or transgender people, is also a form of sexual violence, which is usually accompanied by “corrective” rape (especially in the case of homosexuals) or by humiliation, ridicule and other forms of emotional trauma. , physical and psychological.
Continue with: Bullying
References
- “Violence” on Wikipedia.
- “Partner violence” in Tuotromedico.
- “Physical violence” in the Spanish Pediatric Association.
- “What is physical violence?” at MisAbogados.com.co.
- “Physical violence” at Universidad Católica del Norte (Colombia).
- “Violence can affect anyone” by Dr. Etienne Krug, in World Health Organization.
