Types of Violence

Violence is the intentional extreme form of aggression against oneself or another person.

There are different types of violence:

a) Physical Violence: When someone uses a part of their body or an object to control a person's actions.

• Using physical force which results in pain, discomfort or injury.
• Hitting, hair-pulling, arm-twisting, strangling, burning, stabbing, punching, pushing, slapping, beating, kicking, choking, biting etc.
• Assault & threats with a weapon or other object.
• Murder.

b) Sexual Violence: When a person is forced to unwillingly take part in sexual activity.

• Touching in a sexual manner without consent.
• Forcing a person to perform sexual acts that may be degrading or painful.
• Beating sexual parts of the body.
• Forcing a person to view pornographic material.
• Exhibitionism;
• Denial of a person’s sexuality or privacy.
• Humiliating, criticizing or trying to control a person’s sexuality.
• Forced prostitution.

c) Emotional Violence: When someone says or does something to make a person feel stupid or worthless.

• Name calling.
• Blaming all relationship problems on the person.
• Not allowing the person to have contact with family and friends.
• Destroying possessions.
• Jealousy.
• Humiliating or making fun of the person.
• Intimidating the person; causing fear to gain control.

d) Psychological Violence: When someone uses threats and causes fear in an individual to gain control.

• Threatening to harm oneself.
• Destruction of personal property.
• Verbal aggression.
• Socially isolating the person.
• Not allowing a competent person to make decisions.
• Inappropriately controlling the person’s activities.
• Treating a person like a child or a servant.

e) Spiritual Violence: When someone uses an individual's spiritual believes to manipulate, dominate o control that person.

• Not allowing the person to follow her or his preferred spiritual or religious tradition.
• Forcing a spiritual or religious path or practice on another person.
• Making fun of a person’s spiritual or religious tradition, beliefs or practices.
• Using one’s spiritual or religious position, rituals or practices to manipulate, dominate or control a person.

f) Cultural Violence: When an individual is harmed as a result of practices that are part of her culture, religion or tradition.

• Seeking divorce.
• Infidelity; committing adultery.
• Being raped.
• Lynching or stoning;
• Banishment.
• Abandonment of an older person at hospital by family.
• Female circumcision.
• Rape-marriage.
• Sexual slavery.
• Murder.