Respect Unity - John Freas

Causes of Violence

Usually a person commits an act of violence in response to some triggering event. Sometimes the triggering event is just the last straw in a whole sequence of events leading up to a crisis. On the other hand, most people can encounter triggering events without resorting to violence. The difference usually is caused by an underlying condition which makes it more likely for some people to choose a violent response.

Conflicts also can result in violence. Conflicts are a natural part of life, and they cannot be eliminated. However, conflicts do not have to result in violence. It is important for conflicts to be recognized in the early stages and dealt with appropriately. Here again, underlying conditions can influence whether or not a conflict can end peacefully.

Features of the Book

The book is designed for a wide variety of readers, because all people can play a part in the effort to prevent violence. It uses language that is easy to understand and it is well documented with footnotes. It provides an outline of the causes of violence, the prevention strategies, and how those strategies relate to each type of violence. For the most part, it is a compilation of research that already is available in the literature, but it also includes some suggestions concerning international relations that have not yet been tried.

John M. Freas

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John Freas grew up in Walnut Cove, North Carolina and received his BA degree in chemistry and masters in social work from UNC in Chapel Hill. His entire professional career was focused on helping to solve social problems. He worked in six North Carolina counties helping low income and minority neighborhoods find ways to improve resources in their communities. Then he worked in a delinquency prevention program that also provided resettlement services for people returning from prison. Next he was a social worker with the North Carolina Crippled Children's Program and then a data systems manager for the North Carolina Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

After retiring in 2002, John volunteered with the Traphill Volunteer Fire Department and Grace Clinic of Yadkin Valley and has been active in Galloway Memorial Episcopal Church. John and his wife Mary raised two wonderful daughters, and John has raised beef cattle, honey bees and timber on their farm in Wilkes County.

Why I Wrote the Book

When The World Trade Center and the Pentagon were attacked, and the United States invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, I started doing research on ways to prevent terrorism and war, and later expanded this to include the prevention of violence in general. I discovered the same basic problems are involved in causing all kinds of violence, and the same prevention strategies can be used to prevent each kind of violence. I also realized each person can play an important part in the prevention of violence by using their interests and skills to implement these prevention strategies. Once I realized this, I wanted to share this information with as many people as possible, and decided a book would be the best way to do that.