Violence & Conflict

There are two basic kinds of conflict: internal

conflicts and social conflicts. Internal conflicts, also
known as dilemmas, are situations in which one party
has difficulty making a choice. On the other hand, social
conflicts or disputes occur when there are two or more
parties who have different wants and desires.

It is useful for conflicting parties to analyze their

own conflicts using three steps: describe, explain and
offer remedies. During the description phase,
individuals should say what the conflict is about using the
4 ws: who, what, when and where. (Later on the why
will be discussed.) Different people involved will see
things from their own perspective and emphasize
different aspects of the conflict; however, the basics of

the description are generally the same. A correct and

thorough description is one that all parties accept and
agree on. The second step is the explanation
phase. This is when individuals explain why things are
happening. This is a vital step because it clarifies that all
parties understand the reasons of the conflict. If they do
not agree with the others perceptions of what the conflict
is actually about, it would be necessary to reflect and
utilize other tactics to clarify their reasons behind
conflict. After step one and two are completed, the final
step is to remedy the conflict. Individuals should offer
and suggest what might be done about it. Each party
involved should explain which of the possible outcomes
they would choose to be the best and what is their
minimum that must be met in order for them to walk away
with their needs still met.

There are three major types of violence that we

will discuss: direct, economic, and political. Direct
violence causes injury to the body. It can even
potentially kill someone in extreme cases. Economic
violence involves materialistic incentives that can lead to
deprivation, malnutrition, and disease. Political violence
is expressed through repression which can involve
depriving people of their freedom.

Teenage couples have been found to experience

dating violence. High school students who participated in
a study reported that 35.1% had experienced some type
of abuse during an intimate relationship.

nondiscriminatory so the perpetrators and the victims can

be either male or female. When the victim is perceived to
have provoked the violence, there is an increased
chance of the violence being ignored. When a situation is
perceived as more serious, there is an increased chance
of advising the victim to seek professional help.

Although many people are affected by violence,

there is hope for peace. Even though peace can be
viewed as the absence of conflict, peace is the
nonexistence of violence. Peace can either be negative
or positive. Negative peace is the absence of negative
violence. Positive peace is the absence of all forms of
violence.

Some reasons for violence vary from difficulties

During a study done by Sylaska & Walters,
undergraduate students were surveyed about a scenario
regarding intimate partner violence. Readers viewed the
victims to not be responsible for the violence that is
inflicted upon them. Female participants perceived the
victim as less responsible. When a female victim is
present in the scenario, readers view the incident as
more serious. People in the study were more likely to
overlook situations where the victim is a male. The
perception of intimate partner violence (IPV) varies
depending on the gender of each individual: the victim,
the perpetrator and the reader.
Although there are different perceptions
depending on the gender of the victim, IPV is

and hardships with intrapersonal relationships to not

having a positive coping mechanism and means of
reducing stress. Specific types of violence include:
throwing objects, pushing, shoving, slapping, kicking,
punching, threatening with a
dangerous object and
threatening to hit but no hitting
occurs. Threatening with
verbal abuse is considered to
be violence because it can be
effective in controlling
someone elses behavior for
not only the short-term, but
the long-term. For this reason, verbal abuse is equivalent
to emotional abuse.

Witnessing violence has a profound effect on

young children and how they will deal with conflict.
Researchers have found that more than half of children
who witnessed their parents using violence ended up
using violence in their future relationships. This is
significant because there is a greater percentage of teen
violence among children who have witnessed aggression
in their childhood.

There are many variables to consider when

measuring the impact of violence. One of these factors is
the duration of violence in conjunction with the amount
invested in the relationship. Another important aspect to
consider is the victims level of endurance, which can
also be impacted by the amount invested in the
relationship. Finally, one should consider the motivation
the partners have to resolve their conflict.

It is essential to help resolve violence as soon as

possible because it can have many negative effects on
the victim. Ongoing violence can . . .
destroy self-esteem
foster feelings of anxiety and low self- worth
ignite drug and alcohol abuse
decrease motivation
induce sexual health problems
kill a fetus in a mother
kill the victim
create physical pain that lingers for years after the
abuse ends

Conflict will always occur, no matter how much a

person seeks to avoid it. Even though there is a conflict,
violence should never be an option. By acknowledging
that each individual has the choice, we can better prevent
and resolve violence prevalent in many relationships.

Sources
Burns, August A., Ronnie Lovich, Jae Maxwell, and Katharine

Violence involves causing harm to another to pursue

ones own desires and needs; it can come in many forms.
A unique perspective by OKeeffe, Brockopp and Chew
describe violence as being a rapid application of
physical energy that disrupts established patterns and
structures (OKeeffe, Brockopp and Chew 378).

Shapiro. Where Women Have No Doctor: A Health

Guide for Women. Berkeley, CA, USA: Hesperian
Foundation, 1997. Print.
Kent, George. "Analyzing Conflict And Violence." Peace &
Change 18.4 (1993): 373-98. Web.
O'keeffe, Nona K. "Teen Dating Violence." Social Work 31.6
(1986): 465-68. JSTOR. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.
Sylaska, Kateryna M., and Andrew S. Walters. "Testing the
Extent of the Gender Trap: College Students'
Perceptions of and Reactions to Intimate Violence."
(2014): 134-45. Web.