Factors Contributing to Personal Violence

Gender Conditioning

Societal norms play an active part in shaping gender identity and roles. Traditional male and female gender roles may lead to the acceptance of certain behaviours, and the belief that these behaviours are ‘natural’ to that gender.

For example, traditional gender characteristics would suggest that males are strong, aggressive, dominant, leaders, invulnerable. Whereas females are nurturing, weak, passive, emotional and gentle.

Given these characteristics it would be easy to see how the traditional male stereotype encourages a dominant/perpetrator role whilst the traditional female stereotype encourage a submissive/victim role.

A further unfortunate side-effect of such stereotyping are the limitations imposed upon and directing behaviour of both genders. As males are not traditionally viewed, nor often view themselves, as being emotional or intimate, many males experience a fear of intimacy or threat of emotional weakness. Some men may also experience frustration in their failure to achieve ‘socially defined’ expectations such as to be the "breadwinner".

Likewise, many women do not explore their capabilities of exercising traditionally ‘male traits’ such as aggressiveness or independence. As a result, they may feel powerless to take action in a range of situations, particularly if their personal safety is threatened.

As previously mentioned, stereotyping can also lead to the acceptance of certain behaviour for each gender. This stereotyping imposes countless restrictions, many of which are experienced by females. For example, it may be viewed as perfectly acceptable for a male to walk alone at night, however it is not deemed acceptable for females to do likewise. This belief can lead to blaming the victim for personal violence if they failed to follow ‘societal rules’ of behaviour.

Changing Gender Roles

Traditional gender roles are slowly undergoing change. This change is bringing about a vast number of positive outcomes for both genders including:

• freedom for both men and women to explore and develop new roles based on personal choices rather than gender stereotypes. For example, females can be independent, strong and successful; males can be nurturing, emotional and intuitive;
• equality of interaction between genders; and
• increased social, domestic and career opportunities.

Whilst this change is still evolving, an expectation to ‘conform’ to traditional gender roles still exists with many members of the community. Subsequently, the process of change itself may provoke incidents of violence by creating personal frustration through either the uncertainty of roles as experienced by individuals, and/or the threat of others’ changing roles, for example, women may pose more ‘competition’ in the workplace, etc.

Changing gender roles may also contribute to violence perpetrated by females. For example, females exploring traditionally male traits such as aggression and dominance may emulate patterns of male violence.

Despite the potential for negative effects which may be experienced as a consequence of changes to gender conditioning, the value and long-lasting positive outcomes of this change cannot be denied.

Social and Cultural Influences

Increased Exposure to Violence

For example, we have witnessed a dramatic increase in the portrayal of violence in computer games. For example, Space Invaders with fairly unimaginative symbolic ships and guns in the 1970/80's has been replaced by games such as Street Fighter 1,2,3 and so on, with graphic portrayals of fighting and killings in the 1990's.

These images contribute to the de-sensitisation of individuals to actual violence and unrealistic expectations as to the results of violence, e.g. unlike a computer game there are no ‘extra’ lives resulting from real life violence.

Popular media also frequently portrays violence as being an effective method of solving problems and channelling anger, e.g. practically every modern day action movie such as Natural Born Killers and Pulp Fiction.

Lack of Positive Role Models

Peer Pressure

Religious/Cultural Influences

Family Influences

A number of aspects of family life may impact on the perpetration and acceptance of personal violence. These include:

Family breakdown/divorce - which may create isolation, hopelessness, low self-esteem, self-blame and/or devalued life. Children particularly are often affected by family breakdown, significantly experiencing a number of these effects;

Child Abuse – in addition to the obvious physical, psychological and/or emotional trauma, a person who has been abused as a child must often act proactively to ‘break the cycle’ as an adult;

Domestic Violence - violent behaviour may be viewed as the ‘norm’ and continued from generation to generation; and

Negative Familial Role Models - aggressive behaviour may be viewed as an effective means of dealing with frustration or as a means of problem solving, and therefore copied by children/siblings.

Individual Characteristics

There are many personal factors which may contribute to the likelihood of someone becoming a victim or perpetrator of personal violence, these include:

Specific life experiences – may impact on an individual to become either a victim or perpetrator of personal violence. For example, victims of assault are more likely to be re-victimised (Criminal Justice Commission, 1997 Assault in Queensland Report ). Life events such as death of a friend/family member, divorce, injury, loss of employment, financial hardship, etc., may also be the catalyst for victim or perpetrator behaviour.

Individual values/morals – present a constant influence on a person’s behaviour.

Lack of education or positive role models – may impact on individuals in a number of ways. One result is the ignorance to appropriate methods of managing anger and problem solving. A lack of interpersonal skills to effectively deal with these emotions as well as a lack of power or control over external factors is likely to have a direct impact on levels of personal violence perpetrated or experienced.

Personal addictions – such as alcohol, drugs and/or gambling may also indirectly increase the probability of becoming involved in personal violence. For example, the need to fund these addictions may lead to an individual engaging in desperate behaviour, e.g. robbery, assault etc.

Alcohol and Other Intoxicating Substances

Alcohol and other intoxicating substances play a significant role in the occurrence of personal violence. Some aspects include:

The Australian Bureau of Statistics Women’s Safety Australia Survey (1996) found that alcohol was a factor in 41.1% of physical assaults; and 38.1% of sexual assaults.

The Criminal Justice Commission Report (1997) Assault in Queensland found that the risk of being assaulted almost doubled for people attending hotels and clubs.

There is no doubt that consuming alcohol and/or other drugs will impair a person’s judgement, reflexes and general awareness. This could not only place them in a position of vulnerability, thereby increasing their chances of being a victim of personal violence, but also may act as a catalyst for perpetrating personal violence.

There has been an emergence of a number of ‘date rape’ drugs used for spiking drinks. These drugs can be easily mixed with other drinks because the substances are often odourless, tasteless and colourless.
As illicit drug use continues to rise at a steady rate, users often turn to crime to support their habit, thereby impacting on the incidence of personal violence.