Unlawful personal violence toward a resident (for example, forcing residents to take medications despite their wishes) is the definition of __________.

The correct answer is battery, which refers to the unlawful physical act of inflicting harm or violence on another individual. In the context of healthcare and medication administration, battery can occur when a caregiver forcibly administers medication to a resident who has explicitly expressed the desire not to receive it. This not only violates the resident's autonomy and rights but also constitutes a form of physical harm.

Battery differs from other terms often confused with it, such as abuse, neglect, and assault. While abuse refers broadly to mistreatment and can include various forms of harm (physical, emotional, sexual, etc.), battery specifically focuses on the physical act of harm. Neglect involves a failure to provide necessary care or services, leading to harm or risk. Assault can include the threat or attempt to cause harm, but does not necessarily require physical contact. Therefore, battery is the most fitting term in this scenario, where a resident is coerced into taking medication against their will.