From Poly-Victimization to Poly-Strengths: Understanding the Web of Violence Can Transform Research on Youth Violence and Illuminate the Path to Prevention and Resilience

Abstract

For many years, an overly "siloed" approach has hampered efforts to understand violence and minimize the societal burden of violence and victimization. This article discusses the limitations of an overly specialized approach to youth violence research, which has focused too much on violence in particular contexts, such as the family or the school. Instead, a child-centered approach is needed that comprehensively assesses all exposures to violence. This concept of the total cumulative burden of violence is known as poly-victimization. The poly-victimization framework reveals that many youth are entangled in a web of violence, experiencing victimization in multiple settings by multiple perpetrators. This more accurate view of children's exposure to violence has many advantages for advancing our scientific understanding of violence. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, this more comprehensive view also points to new insights for resilience and prevention. This includes recognizing a parallel concept, "poly-strengths," which captures the number of resources and assets children and their families can use to help insulate youth from violence (prevention) or assist in coping and promoting well-being after victimization (intervention). Reconceptualizing how resilience is defined and understood among youth populations can help alleviate the true societal burden of youth victimization.

Prevalence and Correlates of the Co-Occurrence of Family Violence: A Meta-Analysis on Family Polyvictimization

“…The prevalence and impacts of two types of co-occurring victimization (e.g., IPV and CAN, IPV and EA) have gained widespread recognition in recent decades; however, progress of investigations into the interconnections and co-occurrence of more than two types of victimization remain slow (e.g., Beeman, Hagemeister, & Edleson, 2001; Cannon, Anderson, Rivara, & Thompson, 2010; Grossman & Lundy, 2003; Hamby & Grych, 2013; Pritchard, 2007; White & Smith, 2009). Current efforts in regard to explorations of violence co-occurrence have been split into several major areas (Hamby et al, 2018). Given that different forms of victimization may share the same factors within a family, there is no reason to overlook the importance of studying the co-occurrence of multiple forms of family victimization.…”

The Utility of a Psycho-Social Approach for Understanding and Addressing Male Youth Violence: The Interface between Traumatic Experiences and Masculinity

“…It's therefore fundamentally wrong to analyze the perpetration of youth violence in the context of a violent incident or even the traumatic impact. If we are to move prevention forward, we need to frame violence in the context of young men's lives (Hamby, Taylor, & Jones, 2018) and these of course are experienced both socially and psychologically. Gender, and in particular masculinity, are the greatest social realities for young men (Harland & McCready, 2015).…”

Violence and Maltreatment in Intimate Relationships: A Family Science Analysis

“…In general, there is little discussion of the intersection of vulnerabilities and resilience for VMIR in the textbook, and integrating strengths-based perspectives would offer additional insights into overcoming and surviving VMIR and promoting effective communityand person-oriented responses. For example, Hamby et al (2018) encourage scholars to consider "poly-strengths" of youth experiencing polyvictimization and to develop interventions and resources that increase protective factors (thereby facilitating prevention of VMIR) and increase coping strategies and positive outcomes (thereby promoting well-being and resilience across the life span despite VMIR). Cattaneo and Goodman (2015) also encourage a strengths-based approach in future research and practice through their empowerment process model, a framework for understanding and building empowerment among survivors of intimate partner violence.…”