Aggressive and violent behavior may be rated according to the scale described by Delgado-Escueta et al. The scale was developed at an International Workshop on Aggression and Epilepsy held at Bethesda, Maryland in 1980.
Terms used: aggression and violence are not synonymous but may overlap:
(1) Aggression: physical action that may or may not be directed against a target
(2) Violence: aggressive act directed against a target
Type of Aggression
Example
Rating
nondirected aggressive motion
kicking, flailing, boxing, hitting or other acts not directed to a person or object
1
violence to property
physical force that destroys an inanimate object
2
threatening violence to a person
includes gestures, shouting and spitting
3
mild violence to a person
force against a person without inflicting physical harm, such as pushing or shoving
4
moderate violence to a person
physical force that substantially harms another person, such as hitting with the fist or scratching
5
severe violence to a person
physical force damaging or seriously endangering the life of a person, or actual killing of a person
6
from page 712
Limitation:
• Aggression to an animal is not included in the rating hierarchy. It probably should be rated more than aggression to inanimate objects but rated slightly less than the same degree directed against a person (although some would think that the rating should be the same).
• I am not sure if a very destructive act against property should be rated the same as a minor action.
• I am not sure if obscene gestures fit into the scale (? rating 0).
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