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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.