FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Physical violence is becoming the "new language" of Albanian society, where over 80 cases of injuries were reported in 2025, from young people to pensioners, which shows that no age group is left out of the spiral of aggression. According to experts, the normalization of violence, socio-economic pressure and the decline in social cohesion are turning everyday conflicts into dangerous explosions, which urgently require community and institutional solutions.
On July 28 of this year, in the 'Spring' Square in Durrës, a game of dominoes between two pensioners ended with a 70-year-old man being stabbed by his peer – a warning sign that violence no longer spares even the elderly. This episode is not isolated – from teenagers to pensioners, over 80 cases of injuries reported this year reflect a society where violence is gaining ground and is increasingly becoming a means of communication.
“The situation shows us that violent forms of interaction are no longer limited to a certain age group, but have now become a phenomenon that affects all social categories ,” explained Migena Bakiaj, a clinical psychologist. “In terms of social psychology, it can be said that we are seeing an increase in reactive and instrumental aggression, where the individual uses violence as a means to vent emotions or to gain control over the situation,” she added.
From the analysis of cases that Media Amfora conducted, it results that every month in Albania, an average of 13-14 injuries with sharp objects, knives or firearms occur. These are no longer isolated episodes, but a chain of events that permeate the cities of the country and show a permanent presence of violence in urban and social reality.
The most dramatic event of the summer occurred in Saranda on July 17 near the city's stadium, where two young men, aged 24 and 32, were seriously injured in a gun attack, shaking up this year's tourist season.
This episode, like many others that occurred during 2025, shows that violence is being fueled by deeper social and psychological causes, which, according to experts, are closely related to the way individuals cope with pressures and conflicts.
"Violence has been normalized through constant exposure in the media, social networks and everyday life, making it more acceptable as a way of responding. At the same time, the lack of conflict management skills, the decline of traditional authority and the weakening of social cohesion have removed the protective mechanisms that once prevented clashes," explained the psychologist.
According to her, on the other hand, unemployment, economic insecurity, and lack of community support are increasing frustration that often turns into aggression.
The injury of a 70-year-old man during a game of dominoes in the coastal city is evidence that violence has even reached pensioners, overturning the idea of the elderly as calm figures untouched by conflict - something that experts say is linked to the decline of traditional authority.
"Previously, older people had roles oriented towards advice, authority gained from experience, and were seen as figures of respect and peace; today this hierarchy has faded, making this group also involved in conflicts ," added Bakiaj.
In March of this year, in Durrës, a minor conflict between several citizens degenerated into violence, leaving one person injured by the use of a sharp object.
“Decreased social cohesion – weakened community ties no longer function as a 'safety valve' to prevent clashes ,” Bakiaj explained.
According to the expert, the increase in the level of vulnerability of each age group to psycho-emotional problems is very high, although it is found that there is an increasing increase in the numbers of individuals who seek medical services due to experiencing anxiety, depression and other disorders. However, behind many events that have occurred, there are still cases where the individuals involved have had untreated mental health problems.
"It is often found that individuals may self-medicate or not be treated in time, causing neuropsychiatric problems to worsen to the extent that they damage healthy balances of interaction," explained Bakiaj.
On August 9, a 27-year-old man presented with a gunshot wound to the leg at the Tirana Trauma Hospital, following a brief altercation in the Treshi area. Such incidents, which occur mostly late at night, reflect raw outbursts that are often linked to psycho-emotional pressures and addiction to narcotic substances.
"Another problem that leads to increased violence and aggression is substance addiction, which leads to uncontrolled reactions and often produces serious incidents of violence ," said Bakiaj.
This year's events show a wide spread of violence: From Shkodra in the north, to Tirana and Durrës in the center, to Saranda in the south. Injuries with sharp objects, knives or firearms are no longer rare exceptions, but a reality present in almost all cities in the country.
" This is an alarming sign for society, as it indicates the weakening of social defense mechanisms and the increase in tolerance towards violence as a means of communication," said the psychologist.
Although society is facing a revolution in terms of information technology that has brought positive aspects, according to experts this has obvious consequences. Intense exposure to a large and diverse amount of information, from a young age, reduces social communication skills and can lead to a disconnection from reality.
“Ky ekspozim intensiv që në moshat e vogla ul nivelin e aftësive sociale të komunikimit dhe mund të çojë në një tjetërsim ndaj realitetit”, shpjegoi ekspertja.
Në Shkodër, më 31 korrik të këtij viti, dy vëllezër të rinj plagosën me thikë dhe sende të forta një 42-vjeçar pas një sherri në lagjen ‘Tre Heronjtë’, një ngjarje që tregon se dhuna po bëhet zgjedhje gjithnjë e më e zakonshme duke përfshirë të gjitha grupmoshat.
Jo më larg se 8 shtatori, në lagjen nr. 15, në zonën e Spitallës, në Durrës, dy të rinj 22 dhe 23 vjeç plagosën me thikë dhe sende të forta dy persona (47 dhe 46 vjeç). Ky rast tregon qartë atë që paralajmëron ekspertja:
‘Kur aftësitë e dialogut dhe ndërmjetësimit nuk funksionojnë, individët shkojnë drejt zgjidhjeve të dhunshme si formë e shpejtë për të “imponuar” veten. Në mungesë të tyre, individi reagon në formën më të thjeshtë dhe primitive që ai njeh”, citoi ajo.
Rritja e shifrave të dhunës gjatë këtij viti në vendin tonë tregon për një krizë në kulturën e komunikimit, ku toleranca, respekti dhe aftësitë sociale për zgjidhjen e konflikteve janë dobësuar ndjeshëm.
Konfliktet fizike që përfundojnë deri në përdorimin e armëve të shpërndara në qytete të ndryshme, nga Saranda në Shkodër e Durrës, nuk mund të kuptohen të shkëputura nga sfondi i tyre. Ekspertët theksojnë se faktorët ekonomikë dhe socialë, të ndërthurur me shkaqe të tjera, kanë një ndikim të drejtpërdrejtë në shpërthimin e këtyre ngjarjeve.
“Varfëria dhe papunësia krijojnë frustrim, pakënaqësi dhe mungesë shprese, të cilat shpesh shndërrohen në agresivitet”, theksoi Bakiaj. Në të njëjtën kohë, mungesa e hapësirave komunitare dhe aktiviteteve sociale kufizon mundësitë për ndërveprime pozitive dhe e lë individin më të ekspozuar ndaj izolimit dhe sjelljeve devijante.
“Përveç aspekteve individuale, që lidhen me kushtet ekonomike dhe aftësitë që individi ka për të rritur kapacitetet e tij, dhuna është e lidhur ngushtë edhe me kushtet strukturore që ndikojnë në mirëqenien e qytetarëve”, theksoi ajo.
Më 12 gusht të këtij viti, në kryeqytet, një konflikt për parkim në rrugën ‘Jakov Xoxa’ përfundoi me plagosjen me thikë të një 31-vjeçari nga komshiu i tij 46-vjeçar. Ky rast tregon se edhe marrëdhëniet e fqinjësisë, që dikur funksiononin si një filtër sigurie, sot shpërthejnë në dhunë. Sipas ekseprtëve kjo lidhet me faktin se në kushtet e një shoqërie e cila prej shume vitesh është e hapur ndaj ndryshimeve dhe dinamikave që ndodhin në nivel global, kohezioni social është dobësuar ndjeshëm.
“Në të kaluarën, lidhjet familjare, fqinjësore dhe komunitare funksiononin si një rrjet mbrojtës që e parandalonte përshkallëzimin e konflikteve. Sot, individualizimi, migracioni, dinamika e shpejtë e jetës urbane dhe konkurrenca sociale kanë zbehur këto mekanizma solidariteti”, theksoi Bakiaj.
Currently, individuals often feel alone in facing problems, without the filter of community intervention or moral authority that once channeled conflict towards dialogue. According to the expert, when this "social capital" is lacking, the probability of tensions erupting violently increases.
The August 31 event in Korça, where a banal debate in a bar turned into the stabbing of three people, is an example of how when social ties and trust in the community weaken, tensions that once subsided as arguments between acquaintances are escalating into large-scale physical violence.
"From a psychological point of view, social cohesion is closely linked to the sense of belonging, mutual respect and trust in others. Whenever these weaken, insecurity, isolation and aggressiveness also increase," explained Bakiaj.
The high number of violent incidents spread across cities shows that the phenomenon is not episodic and requires concrete measures at the local and community level to curb it. Psychology emphasizes that violence prevention cannot be achieved without community spaces for young people, life skills education, and stronger psychosocial services.
" Preventing violence requires community spaces and social programs for young people, life skills education, increased psychosocial services at the municipal level, community mediation, and awareness-raising campaigns to restore the values of respect and solidarity," she concluded.
The numerous cases of conflicts with serious consequences show that Albanian society is facing serious challenges, so only by strengthening communities and investing in education can a safer reality be built./ Amfora.al
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