Violence in intimate relationships is a public health issue that particularly affects young people aged 15 to 241 . A Quebec survey focusing on the romantic experiences among this population reports that approximately2 :
Adolescents and young adults are particularly at risk of experiencing or perpetrating violence in an intimate or relational context3
. Young people are in a phase of learning and exploring romantic and sexual relationships4
which may render them more likely to tolerate situations of intimate violence due to a lack of guidance, leading to serious consequences4
,5
. These consequences may include:
- Psychological repercussions: depressive and anxious symptoms, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts, etc.
- Physical repercussions: unwanted pregnancies, risky sexual behaviours, etc.
- Risks of developing substance abuse problems.
- Risks of experiencing intimate partner violence in adulthood2 ,5 ,6 .
It is recommended to act early, as violence in their intimate relationships is particularly insidious. However, the intervention strategies implemented for young people, such as support resources (trained counselors, community violence resources, helplines, etc.), seem to not always effectively reach them7 .
What is violence in intimate relationships?
Violence in intimate relationships refers to any violent gesture or behaviour exercised by a current or former intimate partner, regardless of whether the partners live together1
. It may take various forms, including:
- Psychological violence, such as manipulation, insults, etc.
- Physical violence, including pushing, destruction of objects, slapping, hitting, etc.
- Sexual violence, for example, forcing any sexual activity, having sexual relations with an intimate partner while they are asleep or intoxicated, etc.
- Cyber violence, such as the distribution of intimate photos, virtual harassment, etc.1
.
Currently, awareness and prevention initiatives regarding violence in intimate relationships among adolescents typically address the issue by targeting individual factors. For example, some interventions focus on young people's attitudes toward violence in intimate contexts, their knowledge – signs of violence, violent behaviours, types of violence, etc. – as well as the available resources8
,9
. These interventions enable young people to recognize manifestations of violence in their intimate relationships, develop attitudes toward such violence, and acquire skills to respond in violent situations. For instance, sexual education serves as a preferred means to intervene by teaching individual skills to young people to provide them with the foundation to feel confident, equipped, and competent if confronted with violence in the context of intimate relationships. However, despite prevention initiatives addressing violence in intimate relationships among adolescents, violence appears to persist and continues to affect a significant proportion of adults, namely 4 in 10 women and just over 3 in 10 men over the course of their lives1
. The extent of the situation suggests that interventions targeting the individual may not be the sole solution to prioritize in curbing violence in intimate relationships10
.
In the Western culture, violence in intimate relationships is ingrained in our everyday behaviours, in our reactions to individuals who are victims of it, and in the preconceived notions we hold about violence and its expression in the context of intimate relationships. Here are some examples of a lack of recognition of signs of violence in intimate relationships that circulate in the social sphere:
| Individual behaviours | Minimizing signs of violence, being indifferent to gender stereotypes, not respecting others' boundaries, using aggressive and violent language, consuming violent media (games, films, series), etc. |
| Reactions to disclosures of violence | Blaming the victims rather than the perpetrator (e.g., reproaching them for their appearance or behaviour, questioning why they remained silent, criticizing them for not making more efforts to leave or say "no," etc.), not supporting the victims, trivializing controlling behaviours by justifying jealousy as a sign of love, etc. |
| Myths about violence | "Violence in intimate relationships is primarily physical; it is easy to leave a violent relationship; only others end up in violent relationships; violence in intimate relationships only affects couples; intimate partner violence only occurs in conflict-ridden relationships," etc. |
| Adherence to sociocultural norms | Expectations related to gender roles (women taking care of caregiving and household chores while men are the providers), the pressure to maintain an image of the perfect couple, perceiving violence in intimate relationships as a private matter, the glorification of romantic passion, etc. |
The non-recognition and trivialization of violence in intimate relationships are rooted in our cultural and social norms9 ,10 ,11 , and are evident, for example, in various forms of entertainment media. Therefore, it would be relevant for our interventions and prevention efforts to address violence in intimate relationships both collectively and individually10 , such as by mobilizing active witnesses.
What is an active witness?
Active witnesses are community members who, when witnessing a situation of violence or discrimination that does not involve them as either the perpetrator or the victim, mobilize to intervene11
,12
.
To better understand the role of an active witness and actively participate in the fight against violence in intimate relationships, here are some examples of actions that can be taken9 ,13 :
- Recognize one's role as an individual in the fight against violence in intimate relationships. That can be done by questioning one's own behaviours (language used, content viewed and shared, reactions when confronted with discourses and behaviours that minimize or tolerate violence in intimate contexts, etc.), avoid trivializing others' experiences, take concerns seriously, or not comparing them with a "worse" situation, etc.
- Inform oneself about violence in intimate relationships, learn to recognize it. Reading this article and sharing it with one's circle are excellent starting points!
- Act when faced with a behaviour or situation of violence in intimate relationships. For example, denounce the violent event, seek help, offer support to the victim/perpetrator, etc.
- Encourage peers to question dominant discourses and gender stereotypes that contribute to the trivialization of violence (see the examples above and be prepared to respond when hearing loved ones perpetuate false ideas about violence in intimate relationships!).
Dare to intervene
Although it may seem intimidating or inappropriate to intervene in someone's life when witnessing violence in the context of intimate relationships, such actions could have a significantly positive impact for all. Indeed, intervening can lead to the cessation of violent behaviours or situations for the individuals involved, and could also contribute to collective and social changes9
. For instance, active witnesses may inspire others to intervene or contribute to changing social norms that trivialize violence by sparking reflection.
Violence in intimate relationships has serious consequences for every victim and influences how we perceive intimate relationships as a society. We all have a role to play in the fight against violence in intimate relationships. Let's stop normalizing this violence by staying silent when we witness it, and in doing so, let's provide young (and not-so-young) individuals with models of harmonious, equal, and fulfilling relationships!
The publication of this article was made possible thanks to our partner, the Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS), and the Fonds de recherche du Québec.
To cite this article: Parmentier, E., & Fernet, M. (2024, March 11). Active witnesses against violence in intimate relationships among young people. TRACE Blog. https://natachagodbout.com/en/blog/active-witnesses-against-violence-in…
- 1 a b c d Cotter, A. (2018). Violence entre partenaires intimes au Canada, 2018 : Un aperçu. Juristat, 85, 24.
- 2 a b Hébert, M., Blais, M., & Lavoie, F. (2017). Prevalence of teen dating victimization among a representative sample of high school students in Quebec. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 17(3), 225‑233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2017.06.001
- 3Miller, E., Jones, K. A., & McCauley, H. L. (2018). Updates on adolescent dating and sexual violence prevention and intervention. Current Opinion in Pediatrics, 30(4), 466‑471. https ://doi.org/10.1097/MOP.0000000000000637
- 4 a b Courtain, A., & Glowacz, F. (2021). Exploration of dating violence and related attitudes among adolescents and emerging adults. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(5-6), 2998. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260518770185
- 5 a b Park, Y., Mulford, C., & Blachman-Demner, D. (2018). The acute and chronic impact of adolescent dating violence: A public health perspective. In Adolescent dating violence (pp. 53-83). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-811797-2.00003-7
- 6Cattaneo, L. B., & Goodman, L. A. (2005). Risk factors for reabuse in intimate partner violence: A cross-disciplinary critical review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 6(2), 141‑175. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838005275088
- 7Fernet, M., Hébert, M., Couture, S., & Brodeur, G. (2019). Meeting the needs of adolescent and emerging adult victims of sexual violence in their romantic relationships: A mixed methods study exploring barriers to help-seeking. Child Abuse & Neglect, 91, 41‑51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.01.019
- 8Fernet, M., Hébert, M., Cardinal, J.-F., Guay, H., Bédard, D., & Perreault, G. (2013). Prévention de la violence et promotion des relations harmonieuses et égalitaires : Regard croisé des membres du personnel et des étudiantes et étudiants de niveau collégial. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 32(4), 23-42. https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-2013-029
- 9 a b c d Moynihan, M. M., & Banyard, V. L. (2008). Community responsibility for preventing sexual violence: A pilot study with campus Greeks and intercollegiate athletes. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, 36(1‑2), 23‑38. https://doi.org/10.1080/10852350802022274
- 10 a b c Coker, A. L., Cook-Craig, P. G., Williams, C. M., Fisher, B. S., Clear, E. R., Garcia, L. S., & Hegge, L. M. (2011). Evaluation of Green Dot: An active bystander intervention to reduce sexual violence on college campuses. Violence Against Women, 17(6), 777‑796. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801211410264
- 11 a b Banyard, V. L., Plante, E. G., & Moynihan, M. M. (2004). Bystander education: Bringing a broader community perspective to sexual violence prevention. Journal of Community Psychology, 32(1), 61‑79. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.10078
- 12Grantham, T. C. (2011). New directions for gifted black males suffering from bystander effects: A call for upstanders. Roeper Review, 33(4), 263‑272. https://doi.org/10.1080/02783193.2011.603114
- 13Nelson, J. K., Dunn, K. M., & Paradies, Y. (2011). Bystander anti-racism : A review of the literature. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 11(1), 263 284. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-2415.2011.01274.x
