What Violence Is: Definitions

Definitions of Violence

Violence can be a lot of things. It can be the violence that we do to ourselves, such as harmful coping strategies like eating disorders, self-harm, drug and alcohol abuse. Violence can also be experienced in relationships with our family, friends, and partners (boyfriends and girlfriends). We can also experience violence from the community or larger society in forms of discrimination like racism, sexism, poverty, etc. This last form of violence is often hard to identify, and it changes over time and across different societies.

Violence can also be the use of aggressive, physical force to injure somebody or damage something, or it is the effect created by the threat of this. It is an extremely destructive or uncontrollable force. Violence is an intensity of feeling, or form of expression that is oppressive, hurtful, harmful and damaging to either one’s self or to others.

All of these forms of violence can result in an experience of anger, shame, guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, hopelessness, anxiety, and/or depression, amongst other feelings.

Violence is not an expression of love, it is an abuse of it. Violence is not security and trust, it is an abuse of it. Violence is not nurturing to one’s self or to others, it is abusive.

Violence doesn’t only affect “other” people, it can affect anybody. Violence doesn’t only happen in certain situations, it can happen in any situation.

Violence isn’t only physical; it can be sexual, emotional, mental, spiritual, and/or economic. It can happen inside the home and outside the home. One type of violence usually means other types of violence are present or possible.