Community Violence

Chapter 23
Mental Health Nursing
5th Edition
Fontaine and Fletcher

Jeanne Tucker, RN, MSN, HSAD

Community Violence

Bioterrorism - the use, or threatened use,

of biological agents to promote or spread
fear or intimidation upon an individual, a
specific group or the population as a whole
for religious, political ideological, financial
or personal purposes.
Terrorism- deliberate creation and
exploitation of fear through violence of the
threat of violence in the pursuit of political
change.

Types of Violence

Affective Verbal expression of

intense anger and emotions
composed of bullying, ugly taunts,
disrespect, alienation, scapegoating,
and physical threats. Injury is the
primary goal. Behavior is impulsive
and in response to interpersonal
stress and frequently under the
influence of alcohol and drugs.

Types of Violence

Predatory Hate crimes that are

motivated by bias and hated of
minority groups. People, who do
nothing to provoke the attack are
harassed, tortured, and even killed
just because they are different.
Target racial or ethnic minorities,
religious minorities, ad gay, lesbian,
bisexual or transgender people.

Types of Homicide

Personal-cause homicide
Nonspecific homicide
Revenge homicide.
Patricide/matricide homicide.
Authority Killing.

Workplace Violence

Clues of increase risk of person

becoming violent.
Frequent and increase in absences.
Poor work relationships.
Poor work productivity.
Lack of sense of self-responsibility.

School Violence

Gun Control
Physical and verbal harm to other
students and teachers.

Street Violence

12-19 years old.

Violent Gangs.
Guns in parents homes.
Cross-culturally males are more
physically aggressive than females.

Causative Theories

Community violence results from

interaction of neurobiological,
personality, and societal factors that
have an impact on individuals and
groups of people.

Theories

Neurobiological Serotonin levels

Dopamine aggression
Norepineine fight or flight aggression.
Social Learning TheoryContextual sensitivity hypothesis
Socioeconomic Factors economic inequality of
poverty and racism.
Antisocial behavior- parent and family;
Peer influences.

Risks Factors for Violent Behavior

Past history.
Serious threats of violence.
Psychosis.
Romantic obsessions
Chemical dependency.
Depression and suicidality.
Pathological blaming.
Impaired neurological functioning.
Personality disorder.
Interest in firearms, bombs.
Affiliation with gangs.

Goals Appropriate to Potential

Perpetrators of Community
Violence
Verbalizes an internal locus of control.

Relates appropriately to several peers.

Verbalizes an improved self-esteem.
Accepts responsibility for own behavior.
Attends school or work.
Improves academic performance.
Interacts with others with less prejudicial
behavior.
Exhibits no threats of violence and no
violent behavior.