Thompson & Yokota (2000): “Physical acts described where the aggressor makes or attempts to make some physical contact with the intention of causing injury or death” and “intentional acts where the aggressor makes or attempts to make some physical contact that has potential to inflict injury or harm,” excluding natural disasters, accidents, and expected physical acts in sport games that are not intended to seriously injure (tackling, checking, boxing, engaging in stunts). Additionally, staged violence and medical surgery are not coded (i.e. acting on a stage or film set). We do however code for aggressive behavior by / against non-human characters.
Violence Scale
1 = General reference, observation, or figurative speech about violence and/or violent instruments
“War! What is it good for?”
“Our sound will cut through your soul”
2 = Violence is implied
“Always strapped when I hit the club”
“Woke him up with a barrel to his head/His eyes shut tight bracing for the blow/Resigning his life to the metal held/In another man’s hand”
“So lets get to the point, lets roll another joint”
3 = Violence is described
“Let the bodies hit the floor”
“He killed our tribes, he killed our creed/We fought him hard, we fought him well/
out on the plains, we gave him hell“
