Violence and Society
This involves force, threat, coercion, intimidation, or control that harms another person.
Violence
This theory group explains violence through genetics, brain injury, neurologic impairment, intoxication, withdrawal, pain, or sleep loss.
Biological theories
Shaking, hitting, failure to feed, and failure to provide medical care are examples of abuse or neglect in this age group.
Infants
Miscarriage, preterm labor, placental abruption, low birth weight, and fetal injury are possible consequences of abuse during this condition.
Pregnancy
This is the first priority when caring for a suspected victim of violence.
Safety
Injury, PTSD, anxiety, depression, substance use, and difficulty trusting others are possible effects of violence on this level.
The individual level
This theory group explains violence through trauma, poor impulse control, shame, powerlessness, or need for control.
Psychological theories
School problems, regression, fearfulness, unexplained injuries, and extreme compliance may be signs of abuse in this group.
Children
Flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive memories are examples of this PTSD feature.
Re-experiencing
This is why suspected victims should be interviewed privately whenever possible.
To allow safe disclosure without the abuser or controlling person present
Fear, secrecy, role confusion, financial instability, and intergenerational trauma are possible effects of violence on this group.
The family
This theory group explains violence as learned through family, peers, community, culture, or media.
Sociocultural or social learning theories
Dating violence, cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, and trafficking are examples of abuse affecting this age group.
Adolescents
Avoiding people, places, conversations, memories, or feelings related to trauma is this PTSD feature.
Avoidance
Neck pain, voice changes, trouble swallowing, petechiae, loss of consciousness, and memory gaps may suggest this high-risk form of violence.
Strangulation
Healthcare costs, lost work time, homelessness, legal involvement, and community fear are examples of these.
Societal effects of violence
Poor communication, denial, rigid roles, lack of boundaries, abuse, and fear-based control are characteristics of this.
A dysfunctional family
Intimate partner violence, sexual assault, financial control, and workplace violence are examples of abuse affecting this group.
Adults
Irritability, sleep problems, exaggerated startle response, and constantly feeling on guard are examples of this PTSD feature.
Hyperarousal or hypervigilance
“You are not to blame” and “I will explain each step before I do anything” are examples of this type of care.
Trauma-informed care
This can occur when children learn that control, intimidation, or aggression are normal ways to manage relationships.
Intergenerational violence or intergenerational trauma
This dysfunctional family characteristic occurs when the family pretends abuse, addiction, violence, or neglect is not happening.
Denial of problems
Financial exploitation, neglect of hygiene or medications, abandonment, and overmedication may occur in this age group.
Older adults
Shock, shame, guilt, anger, numbness, nightmares, and difficulty trusting others may occur after sexual assault and are associated with this syndrome.
Rape trauma syndrome
Recognizing anger cues, need for control, blaming, jealousy, entitlement, and impulse to intimidate can help decrease this.
Violent, abusive, or exploitative behaviors