The 10 types of violence (and their causes and consequences)

Violence is a very broad concept that encompasses not only physical behaviors aggressive, as is often thought, but also humiliation towards the other person, ridicule, insults, threats, etc.

It is because of that there is no single type of violence, but several. In this article we will learn about the 10 most important types of violence, according to two parameters: the type of demonstration and the scope of application. We will see what each of them consists of, and we will analyze their causes and consequences.

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Types of violence, their causes and effects

Depending on how the violence manifests itself, as well as its presentation characteristics and typology, we find 6 main types of violence:

1. Physical violence

Physical violence is the one that is exerted on the body of another person. The causes can be varied: low tolerance to frustration, aggressive personality, strong arguments, poor self-control, substance abuse (alcohol, drugs ...), conduct disorders, personality disorders, etc.

The consequences are pain towards the other person, as well as harm or risk of producing it. Physical violence endangers physical integrity of the person on whom it is exercised. It involves, for example, hitting, kicking, pushing, etc.

2. Psychological violence

The second of the types of violence, psychological violence, consists of forms of verbal aggression; These translate into actions, insults, behaviors, threats, humiliation, manipulation, isolation, discredit, etc. Causes emotional harm to the person receiving such violence, as well as disturbance in their personal development and / or self-esteem.

The causes vary: can occur in profiles of abusers, for example, or in people who at a given moment lose control, or who have acquired the habit of speaking badly to the other person through insults, etc. The short-term and long-term consequences for the recipient of this type of violence include: trauma psychological, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insecurities, severe discomfort, anxiety, depression, etc.

3. Sexual violence

Sexual violence encompasses those actions that violate the right of the other person to voluntarily decide whether or not she wants to perform a sexual act. This type of violence can be with or without genital access, and can include sexual assault, sexual abuse, and rape. It translates into forcing the victim to perform some type of sexual behavior, such as fellatio, intercourse, etc.

It is usually accompanied by threats and physical, verbal or psychological violence. It also includes threats, intimidation, etc., and can occur between strangers or between people who know each other (including within relationships or a marriage).

On the other hand, sexual violence also includes cases of forced prostitution, slavery, exploitation and sex trafficking. The causes vary a lot, they can occur in people with some type of mental disorder, but also in "healthy" people (without mental disorder); they are usually multifactorial causes. The consequences of sexual violence for the victim include psychological trauma (eg PTSD), anxiety, depression, addictions, etc.

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4. Economic and patrimonial violence

The next of the types of violence is economic and patrimonial. It is a violence aimed at causing a deterioration in the economic or patrimonial resources of another person. It is used through the possession of the other person's assets, their theft, destruction, retention, etc.

It applies both to economic and physical assets (tangible) as well as to personal documents, economic rights, etc. The causes are multifactorial; This type of violence can appear in relationships "for convenience", in toxic relationships, in the context of other types of violence, in criminals, etc. The consequences for those who receive this type of violence include evictions, financial ruin, etc., and its consequent consequences: malaise, depression, etc.

5. Symbolic violence

Symbolic violence runs through stereotypes, messages, values, signs, symbols, etc. that they are of inequality and that they foment the discrimination of the person. They tend to subordinate or belittle the value of the other person within society (for example, in gender-based violence against women).

A) Yes, it is usually a type of violence suffered especially by women. The causes, as in all cases, also vary greatly, and are related to other forms of violence, the inheritance of a macho culture, etc.

6. Gender violence

Gender violence consists of a type of violence (physical, psychological ...) that is exercised against some person (or group of people) because they are of a certain sexual orientation, sexual identity, sex or gender. However, This terminology is also used to refer to violence against women, due to its extremely high prevalence in society worldwide.

The causes of gender violence “in general” are related to intolerance of difference, prejudices... and those of gender violence against women, are related to machismo, fundamentally.

Classification according to the area where it is applied

We have seen the different types of violence according to their different forms of manifestation; Now let's see the 4 types of violence according to the area where it applies:

1. Domestic violence

Domestic or intrafamily violence is that exercised by a member of the family group to another member of the family (for example his partner); the requirement to consider it as such is that they have lived together previously (or currently). By family group is understood a relationship of a couple, marriage, kinship (by affinity or consanguinity), etc. It can happen anywhere, it doesn't have to be home.

The consequences involve damage to the dignity of the person, to their physical integrity, to their well-being, etc., and it translates into psychological, sexual and / or physical violence. Thus, it can include attacks of all kinds. Domestic violence is often associated with violence against women, because it is violence that occurs with more frequently, but in reality by domestic violence we understand violence against men and against women.

2. Institutional violence

It is a type of violence used by professionals, officials, agents of any public body or institution, etc., whose purpose is to hinder, delay or prevent certain people from having access to your rights provided by law, as well as public policies. It also occurs more frequently against women, according to statistics. The causes are based on prejudices, stereotypes, a patriarchal culture, etc.

3. Workplace violence

Workplace violence is that which discriminates against men or women in public or private work environments. The consequences are obstacles and difficulties for these people to access a job, a promotion, a hiring, permanence in the job, etc.

An example of workplace violence is wage inequality between men and women (the so-called "wage gap") for the benefit of men. Another example would be the systematic psychological abuse that can be done to a worker in order to make him leave the company (mobbing or workplace harassment).

4. Media violence

Media violence involves the publication or dissemination of stereotyped images or messages through some mass media (for example television, the press ...). The consequences include the promotion of male or female exploitation and its images; These people end up receiving insults, discrimination, defamation, humiliation, etc., for the content of these images or messages.

In the case of media violence against women, the cause continues to be machismo (as in most cases of violence against women).

Bibliographical references

• Higonnet, E. (2007). "My Heart is Cut": Sexual Violence by Rebels and Pro-government Forces in Côte D'Ivoire, Volume 19. Human Rights Watch. p.133.

• Kilmartin, Christopher; Allison, Julie A. (2007). Men's Violence Against Women: Theory, Research, and Activism. Routledge. p.278.

• Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. Presidency of the Nation. (2009). Gender violence. Types and modalities of violence (Law No. 26,485).

• WHO (2002). World report on violence and health. Washington, DC: PAHO.