Introduction to violence studies summary

University Leiden


INTRODUCTION
TO VIOLENCE
STUDIES




Boomgaard, K.A. van den
(Krista)
2024/2025

,Introduction to violence studies
Krista van den Boomgaard


Inhoudsopgave
Week 1, college 1...........................................................................................2

Week 1, college 2...........................................................................................4

Week 2, college 3...........................................................................................6

Week 2, college 4...........................................................................................8

Week 3, college 5.........................................................................................14

Week 3, college 6.........................................................................................20

Week 4, college 7.........................................................................................25

Week 4, college 8.........................................................................................30

Week 5, college 9.........................................................................................34

Week 5, college 10.......................................................................................41

Week 6, lecture 11.......................................................................................48




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,Introduction to violence studies
Krista van den Boomgaard


Week 1, college 1
Definitions and types of violence

Concept and definitions

Violent Crime

Violence Crime

Adapted from who (2019)
Violence:

“The intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual,
against another person, or against a group or community, that either
results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death,
psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation”

Crime:

An unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority.
An act harmful not only to some individual but also to a community,
society or the state.

When is an act regarded as a crime?
1. Consensus perspective
a. Members of society by and large agree on what is right and
wrong
2. Conflict perspective
a. Those with political and economic power make laws to protect
their interests; at a disadvantage of those who do not have
such power
3. Constructions perspective
a. Violence as a socially constructed phenomenon: a product of
individual decisions, interpretations and actions

How to classify violence
- Based on motive
- Based on relationship between victim and offender
- Based on victim characteristics
- Based on offender characteristics
- Based on the criminal code
- Based on injury




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, Introduction to violence studies
Krista van den Boomgaard



Public health vs criminal justice perspectives
Public health Criminal justice
Focus on reducing probability of Focus on prevention through
(risk of) harm deterrence, incapacitation and/
or rehabilitation
Violence as intentional injury Violence as a crime
Prevention oriented Reaction oriented
Perspectives
When is violence, violence?

Kivivouri (2014)

Durkheim’s ‘society of saints’:
“Society needs a certain amount of crime, not more and not less, and
cultural definitions would expand or contract accordingly” (p.290)

Contemporary society:
‘Risk society’ (Ulrich Beck)
‘Culture of fear’ (Frank Furedi)
‘High-crime society’ (Garland)

How can we explain increased sensitivity towards violence?
- Feminization of society (Von Hofer)
- Increased life expectancy
- Affluence
- Medical victories over infectious diseases
- Increased digitalization
- Lower rates of ‘hard’ violence




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