Violence

What is violence?

The term violence is in general understood to mean an action or structure that results in physical and/or psychological harm or the threat of such damage.

If there is a threat or subjugation or physical and/or psychological coercion of persons, or if animals or things are deliberately and intentionally harmed, this is called violence.

It cannot be clearly stated how violence arises. Some theories take experiences of family violence, social disadvantages, poor future prospects, general developmental problems, or intensive media use into account when it comes to violent actions and behavior.

Identify motives for violence

The motives for violence can be diverse. In many cases, violence serves to exploit an imbalance in a relationship or to prove one’s power. For many young people, the search for (social) recognition is the decisive factor for violent acts. The attempt to gain respect from other people or groups is meant to strengthen one’s self-esteem and often leads to violence.

Compensation for negative feelings such as fear, anger, envy, offenses, etc can also lead to feeling threatened or provoked, especially in stressful situations. People who have rather low self-esteem, cannot recognize coping strategies, or have a low frustration tolerance, often try to compensate for these feelings with aggressive behavior.

Peer pressure and boredom often play a significant role in an already violent environment. For some people, violent activities represent a change in everyday life or a thrill. Often people are only fellow travelers of larger groups. Out of fear of becoming a victim themselves and the desire to belong, they submit to the opinion of the group.

Forms of Violence

Violence is very wide-ranging, diverse and can take on different forms. Generally, it is divided into personal and structural violence. Personal violence is expressed in physical and mental violence by individual perpetrators. In contrast, structural violence encompasses social conditions and does not originate from other individuals. Forms of violence, including physical violence, psychological violence, sexual violence, and economic violence, are described in more detail below:

Resources for victims of violence

If you are at risk of violence yourself or know that another person is at risk of violence, call for help. The following services can support you and other people.

• Austrian emergency numbers: If there is a critical danger, call the police for help. The emergency call is free of charge and works in all networks (even without credit) and even when the keypad lock is activated and without a SIM card.
• Hearing impared people can call the police for help around the clock by text message on 0800 133 133. Depending on the situation, the police can issue an eviction order, file a report, or take the violent person into custody.
• The crisis support service in Upper Austria is there to help and advise you at any time of day or night. You can contact the crisis support service at any time either by telephone at +43 732 21 77 or reach out for online advice. The service is free of charge if you live in Upper Austria.
• Women’s helpline against violence: Violence against women is the most common form of violence in Austria and affects women of all ages, social classes, cultures, and religions, in all circumstances and situations, in the family, in relationships, at work, among friends and acquaintances,… If you have been affected by violence, it is important that you seek help, even if it is difficult to break the silence and requires a lot of courage to turn to a counseling center. English counseling is always possible, other languages are available on request.
• Violence protection center: Counseling in cases of domestic violence, violence in the social environment, stalking / persistent persecution, as well as for process support and relatives.
• The men’s counseling center: Men’s counseling center is anonymous, confidential, and free of charge. For both men who are affected by violence and men who are prone to violence can find help and support. It offers 24-hour support in acute conflict and crises. The service includes information, advice, and emergency shelters.
• Online Women’s Counseling Upper Austria: Online counseling is free of charge and confidential. First, you need to register on the website and then you can use your online mailbox for counseling. You will receive a reply within 48 hours on working days.
• Austrian Women's Shelter and Women's Shelter in Linz (+43 73 26 06 700): The women’s shelter offers protection, safety, and accommodation by providing a place to live as well as free, anonymous advice, also for women who do not live in the women’s shelter.
• At Violence is never ok! affected children and young people as well as their caretakers can find information and support.
• Im HelpChat kannst du dich online beraten lassen und sich mit anderen betroffenen Frauen austauschen.
• Verein Spektrum (+43 7235 659 69): The association in Gallneukirchen offers free and confidential counseling by appointment.
• Center for Family Therapy and Men’s Counseling: The center offers support for problems with partners and/or families, professional overload and violence.

Obtain information on the topic

Anyone who wants to help in a specific case should seek advice on the legal situation and possibilities for help. This is possible at the violence protection center or another support facility (see above).

Provide help in acute emergency situations

If you witness violence or hear cries for help, it is important to act as quickly as possible. If you feel safe enough to do so yourself, try to stop the violence, if possible, with the support of other people. This requires (moral) courage. If it is too dangerous to intervene, you can always call the police (emergency call 133 or 112).

Due to the dependence of the victims on the perpetrators, the victims may be dismissive towards the police and say that nothing has happened. This is a normal reaction that serves self-protection, as the victims usually continue to live with the perpetrators. However, police intervention stops the violence for the time being and that is the most important thing in an acute situation.

If the victims react negatively to the intervention, this should not be taken personally, because it is often impossible for abused persons to talk about the violence. Nevertheless, it is important to always react quickly – this can save lives!

Respect the decisions of those affected

Not all people who are abused want or are able to separate from the violent person. There are many reasons for this: a sense of responsibility towards children, parents or other people who need care, lack of alternatives, fear of further violence or unclear residence situations. And some simply hope that the situation will eventually change or return to normal.

The most important principle for supporters – whether in the private sphere, in aid facilities or institutions – should always be that the decisions of those affected are respected. Only they can make the decision for their lives. For this, however, they need our help.

Seek contact with the violent person

Here, especially men who reject violence can play a very important role and set limits to violence by confronting violent men with their behavior. This can be done, for example, by making a clear statement that violence is never accepted because there is no justification for it.

Resources for perpetrators of violence

• Men can contact the Men’s Info.
• Women can find help at the EULine – Hotline against violence
• The parents’ helpline is available 24 hours a day via the Upper Austrian telephone counseling service on 142.

18. Diversity Talk - Violence in the social environment

The 18th Diversity Talk at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria was held by Mag.a Eva Schuh from the Violence Protection Center Upper Austria on the topic “Violence in the social environment – Still Not an Isolated Case. Causes and Actions.”

Violence in close social relationships is a sad reality for more than one-third of all women in Austria who are in a relationship. Additionally, 28% of men experience violence in their living environment, and 92% of all violent acts are committed by men. It is therefore evident that violence in relationships and partnerships is predominantly a male issue. The campaign “Men Speak Up” highlights what men can do to combat this, while the Diversity Talk thoroughly explored the options available for those affected by violence (women) and compared relevant laws in other countries (e.g., Spain, Switzerland).

Since experiences of violence are often accompanied by great shame, we are making the Diversity Talk available, as always, to employees via the intranet and, for the first time, also to students, part-time lecturers, and other interested parties on our Kompass page. In the hope that many people affected by violence will dare to break the silence as early as possible. Because violence can happen to anyone, and you are never to blame!

Weitere Informationen und Anlaufstellen

• Film: "And if you are not willing"
• Integrationsfonds Guide: STOP - standing up to violence against women and girls
• Need some Help - Offer of the FH OÖ