Violence and abuse

What are violence and abuse?

Violence can be physical, sexual or psychological. Neglect is also considered a form of violence. Violence can involve many different types of acts, including punching, kicking, coercing someone into performing sexual acts, or a pattern of behaviour intended to degrade or humiliate another person.

Violence can happen in all kinds of situations where people come together: at home, at school, at work, in a taxi queue or on the street. Violence can occur between strangers, between acquaintances or in the workplace.

Violence can occur at any time in life. Those who are subjected to violence as children are more likely to be subjected to violence as adults (often referred to as ‘revictimisation’). Many elderly people are also subjected to violence, and violence against the elderly often occurs in close relationships.

The causes of violence and abuse are complex, but the evidence suggests that financial problems, living conditions, disabilities and substance abuse problems may increase the risk.

Physical violence

Physical violence is the use of physical force to harm or control another person. It can include punching, kicking, choking, throwing objects at someone, or attacking someone physically in other ways. Threatening someone with a weapon is also an act of physical violence.

Corporal punishment during childhood, such as hitting a child with an open hand, is prohibited in Norway and is considered a form of physical violence against children.

Sexual violence and abuse

Sexual violence includes all forms of coercion into engaging in sexual acts or unwanted sexual activity. It includes:

• rape, where a person is forced into having sexual intercourse, oral sex or anal sex, or penetration by fingers/objects through the perpetrator using physical force or threatening to harm the victim or someone close to them 
• rape during sleep, which is unwanted sexual activity where the victim is unable to consent or stop what is happening because they are drunk or intoxicated, or asleep 
• other forms of sexual abuse or offences, such as groping  

Rape and other forms of sexual assault can be commited not only by strangers, but also in many different types of relationship, including between partners.

Child abuse does not have to involve coercion in order for it to be considered sexual violence. When person who is much older than the child uses the power of their age to engage in sexual relations with the child, it is always considered abuse. Sexual abuse in childhood concerns sexual acts which are committed by parents, other family members or people outside the family. Children can also subject other children to abuse.

Digital sexual abuse is also a form of sexual violence. This covers offences and abuse committed using digital tools, where a person is photographed or videoed performing sexual acts without their consent. It may also involve threatening to share, or actually sharing, sexualised images or videos without consent. 

The helpline for victims of sexual abuse – 800 57 000 (dinutvei.no)

Psychological violence

Psychological violence can take many forms and can be difficult to put into words. Control, manipulation and constant criticism are some common characteristics. Often, psychological violence has a pattern, where over time one person makes the other feel worthless, in danger or only worthy when they are meeting the needs of other people.

Psychological violence often occurs in close relationships, such as parental psychological violence against children, or a spouse's psychological violence against their partner. We normally talk about psychological violence in close relationships, but bullying can also be seen as a form of psychological violence.

Psychological violence – Where to begin when you need help? (dinutvei.no)

Neglect

Neglect is where a person’s basic needs are not met. This is a form of violence that can be found in relationships where one person is responsible for another person – for example, parents caring for their children, adult children caring for their ageing parents, or an institution responsible for a person with a disability.

Fundamental needs include: 

• physical – such as the need for food, clean clothes, physical security or medicines 
• emotional – such as the need for someone to care about you, the need to be protected from dangers around you, the need for children to feel loved by their parents, or for their parents to reassure them that they mean something to them 
• health-related – such as being taken to the doctor when necessary

Negative social control

Various forms of invasive or negative social control can be seen as violence, threats or coercion. The aim of this type of control may be to ensure that individuals conform to family or group norms, such as honour-related violence, forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

Read more about negative social control and where to get help (dinutvei.no, in Norwegian)

Dedicated team to combat forced marriage, genital mutilation and negative social control (bufdir.no, in Norwegian) 

Both men and women can be the victims of violence, but there are differences in the types of violence they are subjected to. Men tend to be the victims of physical violence outside of close relationships more often than women. Women tend to be the victims of violence perpetuated by a serious intimate partner and sexual assault more often than men.

Domestic violence

Violence that takes place between family members, partners or other close relations is known as domestic violence. Domestic violence can be particularly complicated because the abuser is an important person in the victim’s life. It can also be more difficult to escape the violence. Domestic violence often means that the victim is not safe in their own home.

Psychological violence – Where to begin when you need help? (dinutvei.no)

How does violence affect health?

Violence can harm the health of the victim in many different ways. It is important to point out that not all victims of violence struggle with their health, and that some people are able to cope well. Nevertheless, violence increases the risk of many physical and mental health problems.

Violence and physical health

Direct consequences of violence can be physical injuries, such as broken ribs, bruises, wounds or internal injuries.

More and more knowledge has recently emerged about the connection between exposure to violence and physical health. Common physical health problems, such as headaches, abdominal pain, nausea, dizziness and muscle pain, are more common in victims of violence than in people who have not been subjected to violence. Serious physical illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer are also more common among victims of violence. Violence can thus have a very broad and wide-ranging impact on health.

Those who are subjected to violence both in childhood and adulthood have a higher risk of developing health problems than those who are subjected in either childhood or adulthood only. Experiencing many different types of violence also increases the risk of health problems.

Violence and mental health

Victims of violence are at greater risk of developing many different mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.  

Long-term, serious violence, such as growing up with a very violent and controlling parent, can cause complex psychological damage. Victims of violence are also more likely to abuse alcohol and other drugs. There is a strong link between violence and acts of self-harm, including attempted suicide. It is also common to experience shame and guilt after having experienced violence.

Violence and abuse can lead to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms can include reliving painful memories in an unpleasant way, avoiding situations that remind the person of the violence, and negative effects on mood, thoughts and stress.

Violence and social relationships

Social factors can play an important role in the development of mental and physical problems. Victims of violence tend to feel let down by other people more often, have less social support around them and feel lonelier. Relationship problems make victims of violence more vulnerable. This means that people who have been subjected to violence are less well-protected and more exposed to further violence, substance abuse problems and poor health. Shame linked to the violence appears to be a major factor in determining future developments as regards health, revictimisation, and social relationships.

Reporting violence or abuse

If you are a victim of violence or abuse, help is available. Talking about what you've experienced with someone you trust can make it easier to seek help.

If you become aware that someone is being subjected to violence or abuse, or is at risk of harm, there are ways you can help. In some cases, you may also have a statutory duty to prevent such harm.

You can take action to prevent domestic violence and sexual offences by reporting your concern to the police or to the child welfare services, or by helping the victim to safety, for example, at a crisis centre, hospital or other safe place. In many cases, it is possible to report or discuss your concern anonymously.

Support services for victims and relatives

Other support services and voluntary organisations

There are many different support services for victims of violence and abuse. The perpetrators of violence and abuse can also seek effective help.