Such punishment shows students that the use of force—be it verbal, physical or emotional—is acceptable, especially when it is directed at younger, weaker individuals. In practice, the category of external violence is a broad one and the distinction between school violence and external violence is often hard to draw. It may also be driven by general feelings of rage, frustration or humiliation unprovoked by anything the victim may have done, as in the case of violent sexual assault and random shootings.