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Preventing Violence and Injury. Preventing Violence and Injury. Violence A set of behaviors that produces injuries, as well as the outcomes of these behaviors (the injuries themselves) Intentional injuries
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Preventing Violence and Injury • Violence • A set of behaviors that produces injuries, as well as the outcomes of these behaviors (the injuries themselves) • Intentional injuries • Injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation that involves the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community • Unintentional injuries • Injury, death, or harm that involves accidents committed without intent to harm, often as a result of circumstances, or without premeditation
Violence in the United States • Statistics from the FBI show rates of overall crime and certain types of violent crime have begun showing yearly decreases. • Violent crime in the nation dropped 3.5 percent and property crime declined 2.5 percent during the first six months of 2008.
Violence in the United States • Violence on U.S. Campuses • Relationship violence is a serious problem and includes emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. • In a recent American College Health Association’s survey, 12 percent of women and 7 percent of men reported being emotionally abused in the past 12 months. • Fewer than 25 percent of campus crimes are reported to any authority.
Factors Contributing to Violence • Social, Cultural, and Environmental Factors • Poverty • Unemployment • Parental influence • Cultural beliefs • Discrimination/oppression • Religious beliefs and differences • Political differences • Breakdown in the criminal justice system • Stress • Heavy use of alcohol and other substances
Factors Contributing to Violence • Personal Precipitators of Violence • Anger (primary aggression, reactive aggression) • Substance abuse • The Impact of the Media • Many argue that what we view on television, what we see online, and what video games we play have a link to violent behaviors. • Critics argue that perceptions and reality are not the same when it comes to violence. • Do you think the media influences your behavior?
Intentional Injuries • Anytime someone sets out to harm other people or their property, they are committing an intentional injury. • There were 9,006 reported victims of hate crimes in 2007 in the United States. • Domestic violenceisat epidemic levels in the United States.
Intentional Injuries • Homicide • Defined as murder or non-negligent manslaughter • Fifteenth leading cause of death in the United States • Second leading cause of death for persons aged 15 to 24. • Hate and Bias- Motivated Crimes • Defined as a crime committed against a person, property, or group of people that is motivated by the offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity
Intentional Injuries • Gang Violence • Once only thought to appear in urban areas, gang violence now appears in rural and suburban communities, particularly in southeastern, southwestern, and western states • Complex reasons for joining gangs: • provide a sense of belonging to a family • feelings of self-worth, companionship, security, and excitement • The age range typically is 12 to 22 years. • Risk factors include low self-esteem, academic problems, low socioeconomic status, alienation from family and society, a history of family violence, and living in gang-controlled neighborhoods.
Intentional Injuries • Terrorism • Use of unlawful force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives • Domestic terrorism • International terrorism
Intentional Injuries • Domestic Violence • Nearly 5.2 million intimate partner victimizations occur each year among U.S. women aged 18 and older. • Approximately 74 percent of all murder-suicides in the United States involve an intimate partner. • Of these, 96 percent involve women killed by their intimate partners and 75 percent occur in the home.
Intentional Injuries • Intimate Partner Violence and Women • Women are much more likely to become victims of intimate partner violence than men. • In reported assaults, only 31 percent of the men who attack women are strangers. • Women do not report domestic violence due to the following: • Being financially dependent on their partners • Hoping the situation will change • Cultural or religious beliefs • Being in love with their partner despite the violence
Intentional Injuries • Cycle of Violence • Tension building • Acute battering • Remorse/reconciliation • Unless effective outside intervention is obtained, the cycle will repeat itself again and again
Intentional Injuries • Intimate Partner Violence against Men • Every year in the United States about 3.2 million men are victims of an assault by an intimate partner. • Men may not report domestic violence due to the following: • Injuries are usually emotional or psychological • Fear that no one will believe them • Societal judgment about what it means if a woman hits a man • Belief that “taking it” and never hitting back is a badge of honor, strength, and masculinity • Humiliation and fear of being found out • Belief that they deserve bad treatment • Lack of awareness of support services
ABC News Video: Private Battles in Public Places Discussion Questions How would you react to a public argument such as the ones staged in the video? Do you think the people filmed who passed by the argument without intervening reacted badly? Why did a higher number of women than men involve themselves into the altercations? Would the race or ethnicity of a couple affect your decision to become involved in a public argument? What if an argument were not in public? How would your feelings change about involving yourself? | Private Battles in Public Places
Intentional Injuries • Child Abuse • Child abuse is defined as systematic abuse by a caregiver. • Exists in all genders, social, ethnic, religious, and racial groups. • In 2007, 3.2 million allegations of child abuse and neglect concerning the welfare of approximately 5.8 million children were made to child protective service agencies in the United States.
Intentional Injuries • Common Characteristics of Child Abusers • Were abused themselves • Poor self-image • Feelings of isolation • Extreme frustration with life • High levels of stress and anxiety • Tendency to abuse drugs and alcohol
Old Phones Given New Life • “Call to Protect” Program • Blackberries, cell phones, computers, and other electronic goods can be donated to a violence prevention agency. • Consult the following websites: • www.phones4life.org • www.recellular.com/recycling • www.collectivegood.com • http://aboutus.vzw.com/communityservice/hopeLine.html
Intentional Injuries • Elder Abuse • The population of people over the age of 65 will exceed 71 million by 2030. • The elderly are increasingly becoming victims of domestic violence; of caregiver abuse in assisted living and long-term care facilities; of financial scams and business scams; of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse; and neglect, abandonment, and exploitation. • As few as 1 in 14 abuse crimes are ever reported.
Sexual Victimization • Sexual Assault and Rape • Sexual assault • Rape • Aggravated rape (multiple attackers) • Simple rape (one attacker) • Acquaintance or date rape • Rape on U.S. campuses • Marital rape
Sexual Victimization • Child Sexual Abuse • Sexual abuse of children is defined as sexual interaction between a child and an adult or older child. • Ranges from sexually suggestive conversation to intercourse or other sexual interaction • Most frequent abusers are child’s parent or companion. • Most often occurs in child’s home
Sexual Victimization • Behaviors Signaling Sexual Abuse • Noticeable fear of a person or place • Unusual responses by the child when questioned • Unreasonable fear of physical exam • Drawings that show sexual acts • Abrupt changes in behavior • Unusual awareness of genitals or sexual acts • Attempts to get other children to perform sexual acts
Sexual Victimization • Other Forms of Sexual Victimization • Sexual Harassment • The behavior is unwelcome and unwanted • The behavior is sexual in nature or is gender directed • The behavior interferes with the ability of someone to pursue and education; perform professional duties; or feel safe or comfortable at his or her school, work, or living environment. • Stalking • A course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear • Between 25 and 30 percent of college women and between 11 and 17 percent of college men have been stalked.
Sexual Victimization • Emotional and Psychological Abuse • Emotional Abuse • Constant criticisms, personal verbal attacks, displays of explosive anger meant to intimidate, and controlling behavior • Psychological Abuse • Psychological abusers seek to intimidate, denigrate, and debase their partners, thereby gaining control over both the partner and the relationship.
Sexual Victimization • Social Contributors to Sexual Violence • Minimization • Trivialization • Blaming the victim • Male socialization • Gender roles • Male misperceptions • Situational factors
Sexual Victimization • Why do you think women are reluctant to report sexual harassment? • Why do you think men report that they are unaware of their own sexually harassing behaviors?
Strategies for Preventing Intentional Injuries • Self-Defense against Personal Assault and Rape • Speak in a strong voice. • Maintain eye contact with the would-be attacker. • Stand up straight, act confident, and remain alert. • Draw attention to yourself and your assailant . • Scream, “Fire!” • Research has shown that passersby are much more likely to help if they hear the word fire rather than just a scream.
Strategies for Preventing Intentional Injuries • What to Do If a Rape Occurs • If You Are a Victim • Call 9-1-1. • Do not bathe. • Do not launder the clothes that you are wearing. • Save the clothes that you were wearing. • Go to a clinic or hospital. • Contact a rape assistance hotline.
Strategies for Preventing Intentional Injuries • If a Friend is the Victim • Believe them. • Recognize that they are a victim. • Encourage a doctor visit immediately. • Encourage reporting the crime. • Be understanding. • Recognize that this is an emotional recovery, and it may take a lot of time to bounce back. • Encourage counseling.
Strategies for Preventing Intentional Injuries • Campuswide Responses to Violence • Campus Law Enforcement • Has increased in numbers and authority • Receiving special training and being issued stun guns and other equipment • Prevention and Early Response Efforts • Campus e-mail alerts for emergency messaging • The REVERSE 9-1-1 system uses database and geographic information system (GIS) mapping technologies to notify authorities.
Strategies for Preventing Intentional Injuries • Community Strategies for Preventing Violence • Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Injury Response Initiatives • Inoculate children against violence in the home. • Develop policies, intervention programs, and laws that prevent violence. • Work with individuals and develop skills-based educational programs. • Provide experiences that help youth develop self-esteem and confidence. • Promote tolerance and acceptance. • Improve community services. • Improve community-based support and treatment for victims.
Unintentional Injuries • Occur without planning or intention to harm • Examples include car accidents, falls, boating accidents, and workplace accidents. • Motor vehicle accidents account for the greatest number of unintentional injury deaths. • Bicycle injuries account for more than 500,000 emergency room visits every year.
Unintentional Injuries • Vehicle Safety • Young drivers (aged 16 to 24) have the highest death rate. • Driving drunk is the single greatest risk for all ages • Each year, about 40,000 Americans die in automobile crashes. • 1.9 million are disabled, 140,000 permanently, as a result of automobile crashes.
Unintentional Injuries • Risk-Management Driving • Don’t drink and drive. • Don’t drive when tired or when in a highly emotional or stressed state. • Surround your car with a safety “bubble.” • Anticipate the actions of other drivers. • Obey all traffic laws. • Always wear a seat belt.
Unintentional Injuries • Accident-Avoidance Techniques • Generally, veer to the right. • Steer, don’t skid, off the road to avoid rolling your vehicle. • If you have to hit a vehicle, hit one moving in the same direction as your own. • If you have to hit a stationary object, try to hit a soft one. • If you have to hit a hard object, hit it with a glancing blow. • Avoid hitting pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists at all costs.
Unintentional Injuries • Cycling Safety • Currently, more than 63 million Americans of all ages ride bicycles. • The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports about 800 deaths per year from cycling accidents. • Approximately 87 percent of fatal collisions were due to cyclists’ errors. • Alcohol also plays a significant role in bicycle deaths and injuries.
Unintentional Injuries • Accident-Avoidance Techniques • Wear a helmet. • Don’t drink and ride. • Follow traffic laws and ride with the flow of traffic. • Wear light reflective clothing. • Avoid riding after dark. • Know and use proper hand signals. • Keep your bicycle in good working condition. • Use bike paths whenever possible. • Stop at stop signs and traffic lights.