12.3 Addressing the root causes of violence

Violence has complex roots in individual, social, and structural factors. Addressing these causes requires a multi-faceted approach that tackles economic inequality, improves education, and strengthens community support systems.

Effective violence prevention involves collaboration across sectors like public health, criminal justice, education, and social services. By working together to address underlying issues, we can create safer, more equitable communities for everyone.

Factors Contributing to Violence

Individual and Relationship Factors

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• Individual-level factors include biological and personal history factors that may increase the likelihood of becoming a victim or perpetrator of violence
  • Age, education, income, substance use, or history of abuse can influence risk
• Personal relationships such as family, friends, intimate partners, and peers may influence the risks of becoming a victim or perpetrator of violence
  • A person's closest social circle can shape their behavior and range of experiences

Community and Societal Factors

• Community contexts in which social relationships occur, such as schools, neighborhoods, and workplaces, also influence violence
  • Risk factors may include the level of unemployment, population density, mobility and the existence of a local drug or gun trade
• Societal factors influence whether violence is encouraged or inhibited
  • Social and cultural norms that support violence as an acceptable way to resolve conflicts
  • Health, economic, educational, and social policies that help to maintain economic or social inequalities between groups in society
• The various factors across levels interact in complex ways to increase or decrease the likelihood of violence
  • Addressing only one level is unlikely to have a significant impact on reducing overall violence

Strategies for Addressing Violence

Economic Strategies

• Reducing poverty and inequality are key strategies in addressing the root causes of violence
  • Poverty and inequality create disparities in access to resources, opportunities, and social support systems that can lead to stress, conflict, and violence
• Improving economic conditions and opportunities, particularly for disadvantaged communities, can help reduce poverty-related stressors that contribute to violence
  • Initiatives to create jobs, raise wages, and provide affordable housing
• Promoting inclusive economic growth and development policies that benefit all segments of society can help reduce income inequality and social exclusion
  • Implementing progressive taxation and redistributive policies to reduce wealth concentration and ensure more equitable access to resources and opportunities

Educational and Social Strategies

• Investing in high-quality education from early childhood through higher education promotes social mobility and equips individuals with critical skills
  • Improves future economic prospects and teaches conflict resolution skills
• Strengthening social safety nets and support services can mitigate risk factors for violence
  • Affordable healthcare, mental health resources, substance abuse treatment, and assistance for families in crisis
• Fostering social cohesion and building community resilience through initiatives that promote positive social interaction, trust, and a sense of shared purpose

Social Determinants of Violence

Adverse Social Determinants

• Adverse social determinants of health can create chronic stress, hopelessness, and a sense of marginalization that increase the risk of violence
  • Poverty, lack of education, unemployment, and social isolation
• Exposure to community violence and lack of access to mental health services can lead to unaddressed trauma, mental illness, and substance abuse
  • These are risk factors for future violent behavior
• Poor access to quality education limits opportunities for social mobility
  • Can lead to unemployment, poverty, and involvement in criminal activity, including violence

Neighborhood and Structural Factors

• Neighborhood and physical environments characterized by concentrated disadvantage, residential segregation, and lack of economic opportunities can foster violence
  • Weakens community ties and informal social control mechanisms that help prevent violence
• Lack of access to quality health care services allows health problems that are risk factors for violence to go unaddressed
  • Includes mental health and substance abuse treatment
• Structural inequities based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and other social identities can intersect with other social determinants
  • Creates unique constellations of risk for violence in marginalized communities

Multi-Sectoral Approach to Violence

Key Sectors in Violence Prevention

• Addressing the complex, interrelated root causes of violence requires the coordinated efforts of multiple sectors of society
  • Government, civil society organizations, the private sector, academia, and communities themselves
• The public health sector plays a key role in collecting data, developing and evaluating prevention strategies, and providing victim services
• The criminal justice sector is responsible for enforcing laws and maintaining public safety
  • Should prioritize prevention, rehabilitation, and restorative justice approaches over purely punitive measures
• The education sector can implement school-based violence prevention curricula and create safe, supportive learning environments
  • Provides opportunities for social and emotional learning and development

Collaboration and Coordination

• The economic and labor sectors can promote policies that reduce poverty and inequality and create employment opportunities
• The housing and urban planning sectors can design safe, inclusive public spaces and mixed-income neighborhoods
  • Promotes social cohesion and reduces concentrated disadvantage
• The social services sector provides support to individuals and families in crisis and addresses mental health and substance abuse issues
  • Promotes healthy child development and family functioning
• Civil society organizations can mobilize communities, provide services, and hold other sectors accountable
  • Includes community-based groups, faith-based institutions, and advocacy organizations
• Effective violence prevention requires these sectors to work together in a coordinated, collaborative manner
  • Sharing information, resources, and best practices towards a common goal of creating safe, just, and equitable communities