What is violence?
Definition
Violence is an action through which a person attempts to establish power over another. It disregards the needs and emotions of the other. A person who engages in violent behaviour forces the other to act against their will without respecting their rights.
We do not define violence as a personal trait but as a means to achieve one’s goals. That is why we refer to individuals using violent behaviours rather than labeling them as violent people.
It is essential to differentiate violence from anger. Unlike violence, which is an action, anger is an emotion. Feeling angry is normal and healthy; it signals that we find a situation unfair, frustrating or hurtful.
Anger is positive because it allows us to realize that a situation is unfair, frustrating, or hurtful. Anger helps us recognize our boundaries and communicate them. It can resolve conflicts and bring about change. The problem is not the emotion itself but how it is expressed through violent behaviours.
Tools
Forms of violence
Cycle of violence
Possible reactions according to the phases of the cycle of violence
Process of human action
The human action process helps develop better self-awareness and a deeper understanding of the control you have over your reactions in order to find non-violent alternatives.
Thermometer
This tool helps assess one’s level of anger on a scale from 0 to 10, where 0 represents a state of well-being and 10 represents an explosion. It is beneficial to use this technique several times a day to increase awareness of your emotional state and implement strategies to prevent reaching the point of explosion.
Decisional balance
Strategies to stop the behaviour
Information to come
For more information and tools, visit the Prends l’air platform.
Video clip
"Consulter, cheminer, s'en sortir"
This video, produced by the association À cœur d’homme, helps demystify the support group process offered by our organization.
- Length: 19min. 27 sec.
