Subtle violence = interactions such as power abuses, bullying and other interpersonal exchanges designed to hurt or control individuals and groups, emotionally and/or psychologically. Behaviors closest to violence and threats of violence.
*Subtle violence often includes discounting, denial and lying behaviors from perpetrators, often holding themselves to be blameless and even victims.
Subtle violence is not so subtle.. when you’re the target!
(Headline from “Subtle Violence” prevention campaign. Shepherd College, now Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, West Virginia, 2003.)
*This is only the beginning of a very complex subject. Discounting, lying and acts stemming from denial need to be explored, especially with their systematic implications.