All Violent Acts are NOT Equal.

How many slaps = 1 Punch?

This was originally 3 episodes looking at the research associated with Acts of Violence.  It has been updated and edited to provide you an evergreen resource to the perceptions and ramifications of violent acts.

Originally stimulated by an article from Iain Abernethy, regarding the violent act of headbutting.

I will share research on 8 Acts of Violence and how they are ranked from 3 Perspectives, across 4 countries:

• Directly
• Trade-Off
• Restitution

You can also test your knowledge with the Q&A and as well, download the my original notes and the original research.

Listen to Parts 2 and 3

In Parts 2 & 3 :

• Internation Research and 3 Hypothesis of Ranking Violence
• How Researchers create a 3d look at violence
• The Problems with current tools that rank violence
• How does a layman, you and i, interpret violence, as compared to how law makers, or law enforcement interpret violence.?
• Is the general public able to reliably interpret severity of violence?

Results

#1. Understanding various acts of violence is ….

simple because striking someone is the same, no matter how you do it.

simple because striking someone is the same, no matter how you do it.

important because because society perceives them differently.

important because because society perceives them differently.

as much an understanding of the legal system as it is a self-defense system.

as much an understanding of the legal system as it is a self-defense system.

not important at all, because it is all under self defense if I am protecting myself.

not important at all, because it is all under self defense if I am protecting myself.

2 and 3

2 and 3

1 and 4

1 and 4

#2. Hypothetically, a Direct Ranking of violent acts from low to high severity follow the order:

spit, slap, kick, punch, head-butt, threaten with a knife, choke, stab.

spit, slap, kick, punch, head-butt, threaten with a knife, choke, stab.

spit, kick, punch, slap, threaten with a knife, head-butt, choke, stab.

spit, kick, punch, slap, threaten with a knife, head-butt, choke, stab.

spit, slap, kick, punch, head-butt, choke, threaten with a knife, stab.

spit, slap, kick, punch, head-butt, choke, threaten with a knife, stab.

none are correct

none are correct

Best response is #1.  In four countries, this is how the majority of the public perceive and rank violent acts.

#3. In many legal systems, a head-butt is the equivalent of …

punching someone once

punching someone once

kicking someone once

kicking someone once

throwing acid

throwing acid

pulling a knife

pulling a knife

none of the above

none of the above

1 and 2

1 and 2

2 and 3

2 and 3

1, 2, 3 and 4 are all an equivalent act of violence

1, 2, 3 and 4 are all an equivalent act of violence

#4. In Compensation Rankings of Acts of Violence

Spit and/or Slap were the lowest in severity, then kick and punch, followed by head-butt and threaten with a knife, the second most severe violent act being choke, and the most severe being a stab

Spit and/or Slap were the lowest in severity, then kick and punch, followed by head-butt and threaten with a knife, the second most severe violent act being choke, and the most severe being a stab

Spit,slap, kick and punch were the same, followed by headbutt and threaten with knife, then choking and then stabbing

Spit,slap, kick and punch were the same, followed by headbutt and threaten with knife, then choking and then stabbing

Compensation Rankings doesn't change, an act of violence is simply that.

Compensation Rankings doesn't change, an act of violence is simply that.

I don't need to know this for self-defense criteria.

I don't need to know this for self-defense criteria.

#5. Practicing Head-butts as a Martial Artist is…

too dangerous to practice, impractical, and should be avoided.

too dangerous to practice, impractical, and should be avoided.

should be practiced, just like punching, kicking, locking, etc

should be practiced, just like punching, kicking, locking, etc

should be practiced, but highly monitored for control and preferably on pads only. No touching of classmate.

should be practiced, but highly monitored for control and preferably on pads only. No touching of classmate.

should be practiced, because even though we may not use it, the act of doing it reminds us that criminals will often employ this tactic.

should be practiced, because even though we may not use it, the act of doing it reminds us that criminals will often employ this tactic.

2,3,4

2,3,4

2,4

2,4

3,4

3,4

head-butts are dangerous to practice and should be regarded differently than a punch or kick.  The 3D ranking of violence supports this as well.  Not practicing head-butts can put the practitioner in the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ trap.  A no-touch rule is safe, and practicing on a focus mit is recommended, whether you ever intend to use it.. or not..

#6. In the Trade-Off Ranking, ‘Slap to Spit’ was about equal..

and then there wasn't much of a change until 'slaps to choke' or 'slaps to stab'

and then there wasn't much of a change until 'slaps to choke' or 'slaps to stab'

and progressed in increasing order slap-punch, slap-kick, slap-threaten with a knife, slap-head-butt, slap-choke and slap-stab.

and progressed in increasing order slap-punch, slap-kick, slap-threaten with a knife, slap-head-butt, slap-choke and slap-stab.

and progressed in increasing order slap-threaten with a knife, slap-punch, slap-kick, slap-head-butt, slap-choke and slap-stab.

and progressed in increasing order slap-threaten with a knife, slap-punch, slap-kick, slap-head-butt, slap-choke and slap-stab.

#2 – threatening with a knife is about the same as a headbutt.  Plus many people would prefer to take many slaps before taking one head-butt.

finish