Definition and Operationalization of Violent Acts
Violence includes any act that is physically designed to cause pain or injury to another individual. According to the World Health Organization, violence is “the deliberate use of force or power against another person or group that results in or has high chances of resulting in injury or death, psychological harm or maldevelopment, or deprivation.” (WHO 2018). This idea may need to be put into practice by the creation of specific criteria to help identify and classify violent behaviors, such as homicide and assault. This could also include the application of standard metrics, or tools, to determine how violent acts are perceived and assessed, along with their effects on people and society. (WHO 2018).