Types of Violence

  • Self-Directed
  • Interpersonal
  • Collective

This initial categorization differentiates between violence a person inflicts upon himself or herself, violence inflicted by another individual or by a small group of individuals, and violence inflicted by larger groups such as states, organized political groups, militia groups and terrorist organizations.

Nature of Violent Acts

  • Physical
  • Sexual
  • Psychological
  • Deprivation and/or Neglect

This is a framework for understanding the complex patterns of violence taking place around the world, as well as violence in the everyday lives of individuals, families and communities.

Types of Prevention

  • Universal interventions – approaches aimed at groups or the general population without regard to individual risk; examples include violence prevention curricula delivered to all students in a school or children of a particular age and community-wide media campaigns.
  • Selected interventions – approaches aimed at those considered at heightened risk for violence (having one or more risk factors for violence); an example of such an intervention is training in parenting provided to low- income, single parents.
  • Indicated interventions – approaches aimed at those who have already demonstrated violent behavior, such as treatment for perpetrators of domestic violence.

Researchers in the field of violence prevention have increasingly turned to a definition of prevention that focuses on the target group of interest.