What is the PAR Model?

"[This] innovative violence prevention approach is something we should be promoting aggressively."

— Roger Goodman
Washington State Representative, 45th District

This new "social technology" is the "Violence Integrative Prevention and Restoration Model" (or "PAR Model" for short). The PAR Model is not a technique, program, treatment, policy, course, project, method, or procedure. It's not something you DO to people. Rather, it's a framework within which a broad range of programs and practices can operate without the numbing barriers found in punishment-based approaches.

Frameworks

There are a number of frameworks under which we can describe and respond to violence. For example, there is a religious framework. In some forms of this framework, violence is seen as evil; those committing acts of violence as evil-doers; and those who have violence done to them as victims or martyrs. Violence may be believed to come from the devil or devils, or unseen and frightening forces. The response to violence under this framework can be punishment, injury, or death.

Another example is the legal/moral framework. Under this framework, violence is seen as a moral failing (or failing of character) and a crime. The legal/moral world is divided into criminals, victims, and the criminal-justice system which is responsible for providing protection from criminals as well as chasing them down when they commit crimes.

The Drama Triangle

Both of these approaches are widespread. They see violence through the eyes of the "drama triangle." Developed by Dr. Stephen Karpman, this way of describing human behavior succinctly describes the melodrama which is characteristic of these traditional approaches to violence. There are three types of players on the drama triangle.

The first is the "persecutor." The persecutor is the villain in the drama — the one that commits the act of violence. The second is the "victim" — the one on the receiving end of the violence and who takes the role of the "underdog" in the drama. The third is the "rescuer" — the one who jumps in to help the "victim" and who takes on the role of the hero. Persecutors, victims, and rescuers can be individuals or groups of people such a nations, ethnic groups, businesses, military units, professions, or any other combination of people.

The PAR Model is free of the drama triangle. Violent transactions, as seen through the eyes of the PAR Model, have no persecutors, no victims, and no rescuers. Instead, there are stakeholders — each with a relationship to violence. Punishment is replaced with evidence-based treatment; resentment with understanding; revenge with healing; condemnation with restoration; fear with confidence; futility with action; helplessness with power.

Under the PAR Model, those affected by violence as well as professionals working in the field can integrate an understanding of power issues, brain dynamics, and a person's ability to restructure their experience of reality so that violence is replaced with healthy expressions of power. This approach and its core elements allow a broad range of disciplines and techniques — such as chemical addiction treatment programs, job skills training, and psychotherapy — to operate free of the inhibiting weight of traditional drama triangle approaches.

It's In the Name

This approach to violence is evident in the name of this new social technology.

Violence
The word "violence" doesn't need much explanation. The PAR Model deals with the public health challenge of violence - an epidemic that has ravaged human beings for eons and continues to do so today.

Integrative
By "integrative," we mean two things. First, the PAR Model integrates a broad range of diverse disciplines including social theory, neuroscience, the public health approach, developmental theory, psychology, and physiology.

Second, the Model incorporates and integrates the concept of the "five bodes" — the physical, emotional, mental, environmental, and the spiritual aspects of human existence.

Prevention
Prevention is the first objective of the PAR Model. We prevent violence by understanding its dynamics and risk factors, and by applying effective evidence-based responses.

Restoration
Restoration refers to the second objective of the PAR Model. Our goal is to — as much as possible — restore those who have been impacted by violence whether they experience that violence arising from violent crime, child abuse, war, rape, bullying, genocide, “honor” killings of women, “ethnic cleansing,” family violence, terrorism, intimidation, slavery, or other forms of violence.

Model
Lastly, this is a model — it's a way of looking at and describing violence. It's certainly not the only way — we've already briefly explored religious and legal/moral models. We use the PAR Model because it helps us to more effectively understand, prevent, and respond to violence.

The Result

Under the PAR Model, fear, dread, ignorance, superstition, and powerlessness are replaced with information, skills, and evidence-based methods to prevent violence and — when violence does occur — to effectively respond to it.