Introduction to violence studies
Krista van den Boomgaard
Week 1, college 1
Definitions and types of violence
Concept and definitions
Violent Crime
Violence Crime
Adapted from who (2019)
Violence:
“The intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual,
against another person, or against a group or community, that either
results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death,
psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation”
Crime:
An unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority.
An act harmful not only to some individual but also to a community,
society or the state.
When is an act regarded as a crime?
1. Consensus perspective
a. Members of society by and large agree on what is right and
wrong
2. Conflict perspective
a. Those with political and economic power make laws to protect
their interests; at a disadvantage of those who do not have
such power
3. Constructions perspective
a. Violence as a socially constructed phenomenon: a product of
individual decisions, interpretations and actions
How to classify violence
- Based on motive
- Based on relationship between victim and offender
- Based on victim characteristics
- Based on offender characteristics
- Based on the criminal code
- Based on injury
Public health vs criminal justice perspectives
Public health Criminal justice
Focus on reducing probability of Focus on prevention through
(risk of) harm deterrence, incapacitation and/
or rehabilitation
Krista van den Boomgaard
Week 1, college 1
Definitions and types of violence
Concept and definitions
Violent Crime
Violence Crime
Adapted from who (2019)
Violence:
“The intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual,
against another person, or against a group or community, that either
results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death,
psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation”
Crime:
An unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority.
An act harmful not only to some individual but also to a community,
society or the state.
When is an act regarded as a crime?
1. Consensus perspective
a. Members of society by and large agree on what is right and
wrong
2. Conflict perspective
a. Those with political and economic power make laws to protect
their interests; at a disadvantage of those who do not have
such power
3. Constructions perspective
a. Violence as a socially constructed phenomenon: a product of
individual decisions, interpretations and actions
How to classify violence
- Based on motive
- Based on relationship between victim and offender
- Based on victim characteristics
- Based on offender characteristics
- Based on the criminal code
- Based on injury
Public health vs criminal justice perspectives
Public health Criminal justice
Focus on reducing probability of Focus on prevention through
(risk of) harm deterrence, incapacitation and/
or rehabilitation
