1. Chapter 25 Violence and Human Abuse
Kären M. Landenburger
Jacquelyn C. Campbell
Copyright © 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

2. Introduction
Violence: nonaccidental acts, interpersonal or intrapersonal, that result in physical or psychological injury to one or more of the people involved
Violence is a community nursing concern; significant mortality and morbidity result from violence
Nurses often care for the victims, the perpetrators, and witnesses of physical and psychological violence
Nurses can also take an active role in developing community responses to violence through working on public policy and needed resources
Copyright © 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

3. Social and Community Factors Influencing Violence
The following slides will discuss:
Work
Education
Media
Organized religion
Population
Community facilities
Copyright © 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

4. Social and Community Factors: Work
Work can be fulfilling and add to sense of well-being; or it can be frustrating and unfulfilling, contributing to stress, which may lead to aggression and violence
This frustration and resentment may contribute to violent behavior
Workers may have difficulty separating feelings generated at work from those at home
People hesitate to give up jobs even if they are frustrating, boring, or stressful
Particularly true in times of economic downturns
Copyright © 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

5. Social and Community Factors: Education
In recent years, schools have assumed many responsibilities traditionally assigned to the family (sex education, discipline)
Corporal punishment (at home and at school)
Schools are often places where stressors and frustrations that can contribute to violence are abundant; often violence is learned rather than discouraged in such settings
On the other hand, school can be a powerful contributor to nonviolence
Copyright © 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

6. Social and Community Factors: Media
Television programs and print articles can inform and increase public awareness about family violence
Abused women and rape victims benefit from media attention, which tends to lessen the stigma of such victimization and publicize available services
Media can indirectly lead people to choose violence
Ads for nonessential items can lead to viewers’ frustration about unfilled dream and unmet wishes
Media portrayal of the world as a violent place
Poor role modeling of anger management
Copyright © 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

7. Social and Community Factors: Organized Religion
Religion generally teaches nonviolent conflict resolution
Historically, however, a seemingly contradictory relationship has often existed between religion and violence
Victimization of women
Copyright © 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

8. Social and Community Factors: Population
A community’s structure can influence the potential for violence
Crowded conditions = greater potential for tension and violence
Lack of jobs or low-paying jobs can lead to feelings of inadequacy, despair, and social alienation
Gangs
Copyright © 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

9. Social and Community Factors: Community Facilities
Communities differ in the resources and facilities they provide to residents
Some are more desirable places to live, work, and raise families and have facilities that can reduce the potential for crime and violence
Recreational facilities such as playgrounds, parks, swimming pools, movie theaters, and tennis courts provide socially acceptable outlets for a variety of feelings, including aggression
Copyright © 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

10. Violence Against Individuals or Oneself
Homicide: the killing of one human being by another
Assault: a violent physical or verbal attack
Sexual violence
Rape: sexual intercourse forced on an unwilling person by threat of bodily injury or loss of life
Suicide: the act of taking one’s own life voluntarily and intentionally
Copyright © 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

11. Family Violence and Abuse
Development of abusive patterns
Types of family violence
Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Emotional abuse
Child abuse and child neglect
Abuse of female partners
Signs of abuse
Abuse as a process
Abuse of older adults
Copyright © 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

12. Family Violence and Abuse (cont’d)
Violence and abuse can happen to any family member: spouse, older adult, child, or developmentally disabled person
Often, people who abuse family members have been abused themselves and react poorly to real or perceived crises; other factors that characterize the abuser are the way the person was raised and the unique character of that person
Copyright © 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.

13. Nursing Interventions
Nurses are in a position to identify victims or potential victims of family abuse because they see clients in a variety of settings, such as schools, businesses, homes, and clinics
Nurses provide interventions for each level of prevention for individuals, families, and the community
Copyright © 2010, 2006, 2002 by Mosby, Inc., an affiliate of Elsevier Inc.