Define different forms of interpersonal violence including battering, situational couple violence, rape, and sexual coercion (or unwanted sex). How can communication play a role in reducing some of these forms of violence?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

There are many forms of interpersonal violence that are damaging to relationships. For example, battering is a form of violence that includes physical violence as a way to threaten or control one's partner and assert dominance. Another form of interpersonal violence is situational couple violence, which involves less-intense physical violence and often occurs because of poor communication skills rather than an intention to dominate.

Rape is defined as sexual activity that is against the victim's consent involving force or threat as well as penetration, whereas, unwanted sex or sexual coercion occurs when a person indicates that he/she does not want to engage in intercourse, but the perpetrator proceeds without physical threat or force.

Both situational couple violence and sexual coercion might be reduced with better communication skills. For example, improving argumentation skills should help to reduce the incidence of situational couple violence and other forms of domestic abuse by giving men and women communication tools to use to discuss problems rather than resorting to physical violence. In the case of sexual coercion, communicating openly and avoiding assumptions, talking clearly about desires and expectations and interpreting messages at face value ("no" really means "no") could reduce the occurrence.