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Are you familiar with the modern-day slang “Woke up and chose violence?” Over 40 percent of the US prisoner population did, with their offenses classified as “violent.” But we don’t have to look further when discussing a tale as old as time.

In the more extensive scope, it is a global issue that often results in 1.6 million deaths annually. Violence is one of the most significant causes of death worldwide. No country may be immune to violence cases, but it is rampant among low- to middle-income nations.

While war may have violence tagged along its path, we should look into a more pressing root of the problem, smaller than armed conflict. The issues at home and among interpersonal relations typically constitute the massive pileup of violence cases.

The health and justice system is placed in a difficult position because of the non-fatal, sexual, physical, and psychological abuse that constantly occurs on an average scale.

Types of violence

There are various forms of violence – sexual, emotional, physical, economic, psychological, dating-related, stalking, and violence against children and the elderly. Let’s discuss the different types of violence and their indications.

Domestic Violence

Perhaps this is the most widely known and, sadly, rampant occurrence in every home. Domestic violence inflicts a range of attacks on someone else without any chance of defense or fighting back. It mainly comprises actions committed by one person to feel powerful and control the other.

These are the everyday acts of someone committing domestic violence:

• Intimidation
• Manipulation
• Humiliation
• Scare Tactics
• Terrorizing
• Physical & Psychological Attacks

When people think of violence, they first strike someone and attack them horribly. While that may be true, that’s only a tiny fraction of the actual picture. Maintaining power is the ultimate goal of an abuser, and the victim is left damaged for life.

Other types of violence rampant in society

Physical abuse: It is the act of hitting, grabbing, pulling, slapping, and shoving resulting from mild to severe bodily injuries. However, direct attacks against another person aren’t all that physical abuse is about. It could also include depriving someone of immediate medical care and forced intake of alcohol and drugs.

Sexual abuse: Sexual acts must always be done with mutual consent; however, sexual abusers do not have any concept since they usually derive joy and arousal from coercing sexual contact against a defenseless victim. Examples of sexual abuse are marital rape, forcing sexual intercourse following acts of physical violence, or sexually demeaning someone.

Emotional abuse: Degrading another person’s self-worth/self-esteem is emotional abuse. While it may not hurt the physical body, it is equally, probably even more damaging and scarring. The constant and unfounded criticism, undermining one’s abilities, name-calling, and shaming someone can cause irreparable trauma. Worst of all, the victim may never recover and have to wrestle with it for the rest of their lives.

Economic Abuse: It is usually committed by the abuser trying to control the victim’s finances, making them entirely dependent on them financially. Economic abuse also withholds the victims’ access to money and deprives them of fundamental rights like education and employment. Many high-profile celebrities are subjected to this kind of violence and struggle to escape it.

Psychological Abuse: Fear induced by multiple causes such as intimidation, the threat of self-harm, and outward infliction towards other people. The primary purpose is to instill control over a person’s mental state and decision-making. It affects their daily living, and they constantly have the abuser in mind when making plans. Taking something hostage which is valuable to the victim is what psychological abusers take advantage of so they can isolate their victims.

The problem with society’s treatment of violence

Perpetrators of violence are good at keeping their acts under wraps because they make the victim feel at fault. Therefore, even with many offenders incriminated for specific acts of violence, many still walk freely and thrive. At the same time, their victims have to live with the fact that society will always find them at fault for being subjected to violence.

And violence doesn’t stop there. Even in prisons, it’s even more rotten to the core. Physical violence is the predominant issue behind bars to the point that everyone lives by the rule of “sleeping with one eye open” lest something happens. You can find other detailed accounts of the most violent man in Real Prison Real Freedom book.

The system has a long way to go regarding violence on all fronts. It may even be perpetrated by the ones within the system that supposedly protects victims. As much as it is a losing situation, there are still those willing to extend help and create safer spaces for the traumatized victims and help them on their road to recovery.