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Riron: Basic Shinseido theory paper: The Theory of Violence

Define each of the following:

a. behaviour

b. aggression

c. violence

d. fear

e. anger

Behaviour: The actions or reactions of a person in response to external or internal stimuli, especially as measurable for its effects.

Aggression: An innate psycho-biologic energy or driving force that has, in positive terms, contributed the survival of our species, which underpins healthy self-assertiveness, self-protection, the achievement of goals, the quest for self-accomplishment or mastery.

Violence: Any word, look, sign or act that hurts a person’s body, feelings, or things in a way that violates that person’s right not to be so hurt. Aggression that violates the rights of others becomes violence.

Fear: A feeling of agitation and anxiety caused by the presence or imminence of danger.

Anger: A strong feeling of displeasure or hostility.

Describe five types of behaviour:

Reactive behaviour: As a result of situational events (such as an inability to achieve goals or thwarted aims) that represent threat - thus inducing stress, fear, anxiety or frustration.

Intentional behaviour: Deliberate intent to gain (material or abstract) such as in bullying and attention seeking behaviours.

Compulsive behaviour: Spontaneous pathological behaviours arising as a result of some physiological; psychological, developmental or genetic cause.

Unintentional behaviour: Resulting from thoughtlessness, insensitivity or lack of awareness.

Cultural behaviour: Socially conditioned behaviour learned within the family or society.

What causes violence? Describe the three causal types and give an example of each

a. Sociological (historical) causes

Examples: Background: Within the family; within the community; influence from society - conditioning processes as a result of these influences; Prejudice; Lack of security (or too much, in the sense of one reacting against it).

b. Pathological causes

Examples: Schizophrenia, Psychopathic disorders, Psychotic disorders, Mania, Paranoia, Depression, Fragile X syndrome, Head injury; Sensory impairment; Epilepsy Dementia, Alcohol and drug abuse.

c. Situational (circumstantial) causes:

Examples: A difference in needs between two or more people; lack of understanding; failure to share in decision making within the family or at work; physical pain; feeling unwell; hot weather; bad odours; noise; delays and waiting; domestic and personal worries such financial problems or moving home; personality conflicts; inappropriate attitudes such as arrogance, snobbery, sarcasm etc.; unreasonableness, thoughtlessness; discriminatory behaviour or attitudes; harassment; direct demands; denial of requests; withdrawal of attention; bullying; lack of consistency; communication difficulties; boredom; sudden change; too close a social approach (crowding), interruption or more personally, particular situations or people.

What are the primary steps on the reactive violence stairway:

Conflict: Physical assault

Physical threatening

Verbal threatening

Verbal confrontation

Non verbal confrontation

Tension: Anger

Agitation

Frustration

Calm

Describe the three fundamental response options:

1. Communicate

a. Visual: Body language, gestures, facial expressions.

b. Vocal: Verbal (talk-down, kiai etc.)

c. Tactile: Touch – physical force.

2. Capitulate

a. Freeze

b. Permit

c. Accept

3. Withdraw

a. Avoidance before the event

b. Evasion during the event

c. Escape to neutralise the event

Describe simply, what the requirements in statutory law are, regarding self-defence:

You may use reasonable force to protect yourself, another person or your property, prevent crime or help to legally arrest a criminal.

The force that it is reasonable to will depend on the circumstances and the threat you are facing. Broadly, for force to be reasonable it must be ‘necessary’ and ‘in proportion’.

However, cases have established that:

· a claim of self-defence is allowed if you have done no more than you instinctively believe is necessary to protect yourself from attack (or to protect others or property); and

· in that situation you are not expected to judge precisely the measure of defensive force used.

Describe the elemental model:

Where fire and air represent the masculine aspect (yang) and earth and water represent the feminine aspect (yin). A perfect balance of all four elements is represented by the fabulous element, aether. The elemental model is depicted thus:

Fire Air

Aether

Earth Water

Describe the six point model on how we handle conflict:

Because of the complex nature of this question, I am asking students to become familiar with the model below and then be able to describe its import with me as a topic of discussion. I will be talking about this model on Sunday mornings as part of my theory sessions.

Name ten signs of impending hostility:

Examples: Muscular tension; increased movement; sudden stillness; confrontational pose; invasion of space. Fists; pointing finger; hands on hips; arms folded; gesticulating vigorously or enthusiastically (remember cultural differences). Frowning; flushed or pallid skin tones; clenching teeth; sweating. Overt staring; avoidance of eye contact. Very loud and argumentative; very quiet and threatening; accusing; swearing; bullying; aggressive dominant attitude. Manipulative or threatening statements; insincerity; lack of empathy. Hyperventilating; sighing; holding breath

Describe the tactile zone and its importance:

Description: This is the ‘circle of reach’ or the point marked by tips of the fingers when the hands and arms are outstretched. This marks the periphery of the zone in which a person can be touched by another person. The tactile zone has variable extent depending upon whether the other person picks up an object that extends his or her reach.

Importance: If a person is close enough to touch you, you can be assaulted. It takes a person less that a tenth of a second to effect an assault from such close proximity, but at least seven tenths of a second to respond. In other words if a person is close enough to touch you, he (or she) can assault you spontaneously and you will be unable to do anything to stop it.