The violence is defined as any act relevant to the practice of physical force or verbal about another person, animal or object causing damage on them voluntarily or accidentally. The main element within violent actions is the use of both physical and psychological force to achieve the objectives, and against the victim. In addition to this, a pathological aggressiveness can be classified when, on occasions, the human being uses aggressive impulses with the intention of causing harm to another person.
What is violence
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According to the World Health Organization, violence is the intentional use of physical power or force, as a threat or acts of damage against other people or towards oneself, it can also be violent against groups of people or communities, these damages They can be physical, psychological and can even cause death.
According to this organization, violence can be classified into three large groups or categories, according to the characteristics of those who commit these acts, they are:
1. Interpersonal: this group includes family, partner and elderly violence, as well as violence towards minors and unrelated people.
2. Self-inflicted: refers to suicidal behavior and self-harm.
3. The collective: in it is political, social and economic violence.
Physical violence
It is any action that causes non-accidental damage, using physical force or any kind of weapon or object that may or may not cause injuries, whether internal, external, or both. There is a wide range of situations classified as violent such as corporal punishment, including hitting, pinching, spanking, slapping and criminal injuries that can cause death. In addition, forced stay in a place, such as confinement and immobilization of the individual through moorings, are considered kidnapping.
Physical or corporal violence is also considered an invasion of the physical space of the other person, which can be done in two ways: one is through direct contact with the body of the other person through blows, shoves; the other is by restricting her movements by confining her, injuring her with knives or firearms, forcing her to have sexual relations, and causing her death.
Consequences generated by physical violence:
This kind of violence can cause consequences that range from simple to very serious towards the victim, some of them are:
- Injuries and illnesses caused by aggression.
- Inability to perform tasks or jobs.
- Suicides.
- Homicides
- Generate panic in the victim.
- It can also cause displacement of the victim.
Although the statistics reflect that, for the most part, women are the victims of violent acts, it is important to note that any human being can be a victim of violence regardless of their age, race, sex or religion, even animals are usually victims of this scourge.
Violence is the result of cultural evolution, for this reason, it is necessary to change the cultural aspects that motivate it so that it does not occur. According to studies conducted by scientists at the University of Wisconsin in the US and published in the journal Science: "the human brain is connected to natural checkers and balancers that control negative emotions, but certain disconnections seem to increase the risk of violent and impulsive behavior."
It has been proven that these types of actions are related to a substance present in the brain called serotonin, which in these individuals appears to be diminished.
Psychological Violence
Psychological violence is any aggression carried out without the intervention of physical contact between people. It is a phenomenon that originates when one or more people verbally lash out against another or other people, causing some kind of psychological, or emotional damage to the people attacked.
This type of aggression is, perhaps, one of the most common and invisible forms of violence against women for the rest of the people, because it does not leave marks or appearances on the victim's body. It is extremely important that women know the situations in which they could be victims of psychological violence, some of them are:
- Affective relationships where the woman feels that she does not have the right to express her feelings.
- The woman perceives that her wishes and voice are not taken into account.
- Repetitive situations.
- Fear of expressing their opinions.
- Not being able to decide what to do with your time.
- Consequence of all the above: low self-esteem and difficulty making decisions.
In Mexico, it is estimated that 68% of women over 15 years of age who have lived with a partner, claim to have suffered some type of violence, but the psychological one, because it is more tenuous, is not identified by some victims and in other cases, it is not identified. dare to denounce it.
This type of psychological abuse has a direct impact on the mental health of the victim and can have very serious consequences such as suicide.
Causes of violence
The most common causes of violence are:
- The Alcoholism: statistics battered women by their partners or spouses, lower the effects of alcohol are very high, this puts it in one of the main causes.
- Drug addiction: some people use drugs to escape their reality, and others become very violent and cause a lot of damage, they are capable of assaulting even killing their own mother, if they do not have the money to buy narcotics.
- Lack of awareness of the inhabitants of some societies who think that strikes, coups and shootings will solve the problems that it suffers.
- Lack of will, in some people, to control their impulses and solve problems, generating violence.
- Lack of understanding, tolerance and incompatibility of characters between couples, generates domestic violence, this is considered the greatest cause of violence that exists, a child who develops in the middle of this environment, will be an insecure, problematic person with few principles personal.
Consequences of violence
Violent behavior, both psychically and physically, causes a psychological deterioration in the woman and generates in her a behavior that manifests itself in a submissive way, at the orders and wishes of her aggressor.
The aggressor comes to have complete power, control and dominance over the woman, who becomes more and more flexible and vulnerable, for this reason violence continues its repetitive cycle of increasing intensity, until the victim loses her own identity and it becomes one more possession.
Of course, in an abused possession, which, due to the lack of legal support, in many cases, they do not decide to break with this situation, much less if there are children in the relationship.
Some consequences of violence are:
- Low self-esteem.
- deep depression, hopelessness, weakness, high levels of self-criticism, and limited emotional responses.
- Internalization of machismo, total dependence on the male and on all authority figures.
- Stress, fear, anxiety, acute psychic shock and disorientation.
- Due to the continuous social neglect, isolation and isolation.
- Feeling of guilt, the woman feels guilty about the situation.
- Feelings of subordination, dependence and submission.
- Uncertainty, indecisions and doubts due to emotional blockage.
- Profound lack of hope and demotivation.
- Indecision, powerlessness and lack of inner power to overcome problems.
- Transmission and experiences of sexist roles.
- In some cases they suffer from severe eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia.
- Frequent alcoholism and gambling disorders.
- Low internalization of democratic and social values.
Types of violence
There are different types of violence that are generally practiced on the most vulnerable people, such as women, children, the elderly, religious groups, etc. Some of them are shown below:
Domestic violence
It is one that is given by one of the members of the family group over another, causing a non-accidental injury, in the physical and mental aspect. It should be noted that this type of violence is punishable by law, however it is a crime that is usually not reported, since the victim feels fear and shame to report a member of their own family.
Gender violence
Gender violence (or sexist violence, according to other sources) is understood as any type of aggression that is carried out damaging the physical, psychological or relational well-being of a person due to their gender or identity.
This type of aggression is carried out intentionally, either by physical force or, with the purpose of causing harm, coercing, limiting or manipulating the person subjected to violent acts.
This type of aggression can have devastating effects on victims. On a physical level, serious injuries can occur that can lead to disability, coma, or even death.
On a psychological level, it is common for people who suffer gender-based violence to be unable to report, usually for fear of possible repercussions for themselves or their loved ones, disbelief or the belief that they will not receive support.
Institutional violence
Represents all violence, be it physical, psychological, symbolic or sexual, carried out in an abusive way by public administration officials, it is distinguished by the use of power by state agents in order to harm and intensify the methods of domination.
school violence
This type originates in classrooms, being the cause of the educational center's own teaching staff. On many occasions, this school violence is carried out in order to maintain power and order within the group.
It usually manifests itself through humiliating adjectives, and discrimination due to their social, academic or sexual condition. It is important to note that the victims are not only the students and their parents, they can also be the same colleagues who make up the administrative and service staff of the school. Unfortunately at present, teacher violence has grown significantly over time.
Another definition of institutional violence are all those actions or omissions, where public servants of any order of government practice discriminatory acts, with the purpose of delaying, hindering or preventing the exercise and enjoyment of human rights of all individuals, as well as their access to the enjoyment of the various policies implemented by the state.
Violence against women
It is one of the most extreme forms of violence carried out against women; violating their human rights, especially their right to life, security and access to justice. This phenomenon includes different types of violence such as femicide (intentional or culpable homicide of women), suicides, accidents, etc.
Sexual violence
It is one that manifests itself with aggressions carried out through physical, mental or moral force, reducing a person to conditions of inferiority, to implant sexual behavior against their will. This is an act whose objective is to subdue the body and the will of the victim.
Dating violence
Dating violence occurs in the same way in relationships between adults, however in relationships between adolescents it is very common, where the exaltation of love, as well as the lack of experience of young people, tend to overlook some situations or details, where they are giving way to violence against women and in this way are laying the foundations for a violent relationship.
Economic violence
Economic violence is any action carried out by an individual that affects the economic survival of another. It is presented through limitations, aimed at controlling the income obtained; as well as the perception of a lower salary for equal work, within the same workplace.
patrimonial violence
Patrimonial violence is present in any act or omission that affects the patrimonial situation of the victim (man or woman). It manifests itself in the transformation, destruction, limitation, retention of objects, personal documents, values and assets, rights or economic resources destined to satisfy their needs, and can include damage to the common or personal belongings of the victim..
A woman is financially raped when she is denied enough money to pay for her children's basic needs, such as food, housing, clothing, education, health, among others.
Also when, in any way, you are prevented from working for a fee or when you are required to render accounts and / or proof of payment for the purchases you make to meet the needs of your family; or after separation, you are denied or denied alimony.
Other types of Violence
Other types of violence are:
Workplace violence
Any action exercised within the labor context that shows abuse of power on the part of the employer, higher-ranking personnel or a third party linked to the worker. It usually manifests itself through verbal, recurrent and sustained abuse of a worker; sexual harassment and physical assault.
Violence in the community
It is one that originates within the same community and is related to the few or few values instilled, and the misconception of the unhealthy behavior of the people who live within that community. This is a phenomenon that has existed for a long time and that over time has increased, having a negative impact on the development of the individual within society. This class manifests itself through acts such as robberies, harassment of residents, sexual assaults, etc.
Violence in Mexico
According to UNICEF, violence in Mexico has become one of the determining factors in school dropouts and one of the main causes of child death. Thousands of children and adolescents in this country grow up in the midst of a context of daily violence that leaves deep damage and even the death of hundreds of them.
The cases of aggression include sexual, physical, psychological aggression, abandonment and discrimination, which many times remains hidden and can be said to be even socially approved.
According to the National Report, 2 children under the age of 14 die every day due to violence in Mexico. The main objective of both studies is to make recommendations aimed at the prevention and elimination of all forms of aggression against children, and constitute a strong call to government institutions and society in general, to urgently attack this problem.
In this context, the Secretary of Public Education, the Secretary of Health, and the President of the DIF National System have signed a Commitment Law to follow up on the recommendations of both studies.
Other institutions have also recorded important figures on this situation; In 2005, the National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Informatics (INEGI) registered a total of 677 deaths caused by homicides among young people in this age group. According to INEGI, 56% of women between the ages of 15 and 19 who live with a partner have suffered at least one incident of violence in the last 12 months.
In addition to the above, UNICEF has promoted an investigation on child abuse with surveys in four states, together with the National Institute of Women and the National Institute of Psychiatry. The results of these surveys were published in November 2006. UNICEF is also pushing for these surveys in 2007 to be carried out in all the states of the Mexican Republic, with the support of INEGI, CIESAS and the Chamber of Deputies, in order to: know more about the size of this problem
