At first, it is necessary to understand the concept of violence and its psychological aspect correctly, and alongside its definition, to recognize its various types in order to be able to place our chosen model and subject in its specific category. Because from a psychological perspective, it is very important to categorize topics; as all types of violence are very distressing and damaging, but they have different levels of harm, and this is why it is important for us to know the definitions and types in order to determine the extent of the damage.

There are many different definitions alongside various types of violence. In this writing, I have attempted to focus on a series of concepts and types of violence that are directly and indirectly related to our main subject.

The concept of violence from a psychological perspective.

Violence can be considered a state of behavior in which a violent individual imposes their desires on others using physical, non-physical, and verbal force, and this violence may occur as a result of anger. Following the definition of violence, any behavior that aims to harm one or more phenomena is called violent behavior. Violent behavior can occur consciously or unconsciously; however, it is important to note that the definition of violence varies from one society and culture to another and the boundaries between it and other social concepts are not fixed.

The concept of violence against women

Violence against women is a phenomenon in which a woman is subjected to force by a different gender (male) solely because of her gender and being a woman. If violence occurs within the framework of the family and between husband and wife, it is interpreted as domestic violence and refers to any act or potential behavior that leads to physical, sexual, psychological harm or deprivation and suffering, it is called violence against women. This definition also includes any behavior or action that deprives or restricts freedom, whether by force or by choice, (including personal and private life or collective) is included.

Many psychologists have considered the division of roles and attention to gender roles, as well as the type of society, to be very important in studying the causes of violence.

Impact and susceptibility

It is important to consider psychological factors in identifying instances of violence. Due to the disgust towards all forms of violence and differences in vulnerability, we must be able to view violence from different dimensions.

• An individual is being violent, but this behavior is not interpreted as violence from the perspective of the injured individual; nevertheless, they still see the harm.

• An individual commits violence and the injured individual interprets it as violence and sees it as harm.

• One person does not commit violence, but another person interprets it as violence.

According to the above definitions, it is very necessary for us to understand the concept of violence, its instances, and its types so that we know how to react psychologically in different situations.

Types of violence

In a classification, violence can be divided into verbal and non-verbal types.

Verbal violence

One of the most common types of violence in our country is carried out in various ways. Verbal violence can include insults, curses, backbiting, bullying, bullying behavior, shouting and screaming at others, and more.

Non-verbal violence

Any form of behavior that involves indirect and non-verbal violence is considered as violence; including non-verbal violence such as sexual violence, psychological violence, and written violence (such as writing insulting slogans and texts in various virtual spaces). And a newer model that is very important and relevant to our topic of violence: symbolic violence, which, although widely used in our daily lives, is often overlooked and one of the reasons for this neglect is being unaware of the concept and psychological effects of this type of violence.

Symbolic violence definition

Symbolic violence is a capacity and possibility to exercise power or violence that causes individuals to strongly control their behaviors and align themselves with the origin of that violence. Symbolic violence imposes obedience based on collective expectations and socially internalized beliefs. This violence is based on a theory of reproducing beliefs. Symbolic violence is mainly carried out through internalizing the system of domination, in which both the one who exercises power and the one who is under it may unconsciously internalize the system of domination in a way that automatically reproduces and reproduces it in their daily movements, choices, and all aspects of their lives.

Psychological, verbal, and symbolic violence against pregnant women in maternity wards.

In the discussion of types of violence, reference has been made to psychological and verbal violence that can be placed alongside this topic. Insults and the use of vulgar words, shouting and immorality, disrespect, authoritarian and controlling behaviors, threats of harm or restriction, and belittling prominent characteristics are all part of this model. When studying this topic, I could easily recognize that these behaviors are violent, but for me, who is highly vulnerable to violence, it was necessary to further investigate in order to determine in which type of violence this falls under. With the explanations I provided regarding psychological and verbal violence against women, it seems much easier to place this model of violence in this category.

However, due to the widespread nature of this phenomenon, it is necessary to also use other forms of violence in order to have a better and more accurate understanding of this issue.

It is very important for me to have a broader perspective here. That’s why we should also look at the cultural dimensions of this phenomenon, as cultural phenomena directly and indirectly affect our psychological dimension. Unfortunately, in our society, sexual relationships, especially for women, are considered a shameful and sometimes sinful act from a cultural perspective, and talking about it always has to be done secretly with a lot of censorship. Perhaps this is one reason for the spread of such culture and violence.

And the interesting thing is that in our culture, pregnant women also experience a feeling of shame in front of people, especially men; because they see this situation as a result of their sexual relationship, which results in shame. This experience of shame creates a situation where if a person is subjected to violence or abuse by others, they may accept it and the behavior may be considered acceptable, and sometimes they may remain silent; because women like this give themselves the label of “accommodating woman” and “patient woman”.

Pregnant women, apart from bearing the heavy burden of motherhood and the widespread anxiety of being a good mother, must also endure a heavier cultural burden during childbirth. Their superiority lies in having a natural birth. There is a cultural perception that if a woman is healthier, stronger and more capable, she can have a natural birth, otherwise not. However, we are not emphasizing the type of birth here. We mention it due to societal pressure, as this is a medical issue that is certainly tailored to the individual’s circumstances.

Regarding the violence that has been carried out psychologically, verbally, and symbolically in this discussion, its root can be traced back to the instrumental view of women for reproduction. Without considering her individuality, she must be strong and resilient in order to only bring healthy children into the world. The fact that a woman’s body is not only not respected and valued due to the gendered view that society has on her, but she must also fulfill her sexual needs and perform her duties, which is reproduction, properly.

And here it is necessary to return to the explanation we gave for the symbolic meaning of violence.

We said that symbolic power is a hidden tool for exercising violence in societies; an invisible power that is only exercised with the cooperation of those who do not want to acknowledge that they are alongside this power or that they themselves even exercise such power. Nowadays, power is rarely used as a physical force in society, but rather appears symbolically and gains a sense of legitimacy before being exercised upon us. Symbolic power is an invisible power that we usually do not understand well; because we do not see it as power, but rather perceive it in the form of legitimacy. This can make the issue of desensitization to it even more sensitive.

I have explained the complementary concept of symbolic violence in this section in order to shed light on this model of violent behaviors and provide a better understanding of the subject. It also highlights how deeply ingrained and desensitized these discussions have become, and how easily they are used without us being aware of their psychological and lasting effects.

As we have defined violence in a realistic and clear manner here, we must also give equal importance to the internal and mental definition of violence, as it can greatly assist us in this subject. In the internal definition, we can refer to the internal, cultural, and social experiences that have a direct relationship with personal and social beliefs and values.

The psychological effects of violence phenomenon

In general, understanding the correct factors influencing violence against women can lead to appropriate solutions, as the phenomenon of violence against women is multidimensional and multifaceted. Providing such solutions should be done by carefully examining the underlying factors that contribute to reducing violent actions by men and vulnerability to violence by women.

To effectively address the social issue of violence against women in society, in the first step, the underlying factors must be identified and the question must be answered as to which factors put women at risk of violence and cause them to suffer irreparable psychological, physical, and familial damage, and prevent them from successfully breaking the cycle of violence. Research has shown that cultural and social factors, economic factors, and legal and human rights factors are among the underlying causes of violence against women. Lack of awareness and cultural weakness in society are the main underlying factors of violence against women in Iranian society.

From a psychological perspective, emotional, behavioral, and social disorders can be their outcome. Feeling insecure, unworthy, and unaccepted by the society we belong to can create feelings of hopelessness, decreased hope for the future, and anxiety about the future; something that in psychology is referred to as “learned helplessness”.

Research findings have shown that most of the violence inflicted on these women is more than the model of psychological-verbal violence, which has greater psychological effects and vulnerability compared to other types of violence.