Understanding Violence

What impels human beings to harm others--family members or strangers? And how can these impulses and actions be prevented or controlled? Heightened public awareness of and concern about what is widely perceived as a recent explosion of violence, on a spectrum from domestic abuse to street crime to terrorism has motivated behavioral and social scientists to cast new light on old questions. Many hypotheses have been offered.

In this book Elizabeth Kandel Englander sorts, structures, and evaluates them. She draws on contemporary research and theory in varied fields--clinical and social psychology, sociology, criminology, psychiatry, social work, neuropsychology, behavioral genetics, and education--to present a uniquely balanced, integrated, and readable summary of what we currently know about the causes and effects of violence. Throughout, she emphasizes the necessity of distinguishing among different types of violent behavior and of realizing that nature and nurture interact in human development. There are no simple answers and many well-accepted "facts" must be challenged.

This thoroughly revised and expanded second edition of Understanding Violence will be welcomed by all those concerned with violent offenders and their victims, and by their students and trainees.

New chapters discuss:
*biological and psychological factors in violence;
*developmental and social learning factors in violence; and
*youth violence, including gang conflicts and school shootings.

New coverage includes recent research on:
*children's use of violent video games and their relationship to violent or aggressive behavior--alcohol use and violence, and the role of alcohol and drugs in violent crime;
*the types and causes of sexual assault;
*spousal homicide, child abuse, and physical punishment; and
*social and cultural factors in violence.
Updated statistics on frequencies and types of violent crimes are also incorporated.

“What makes ordinary people become violent? Elizabeth Englander presents an enormous body of theory and research data in a well organized, smoothly fl owing, and folksy style that makes for surprisingly easy and enjoyable reading. Her third edition is a major contribution to the fi eld, pulling together disparate theories while presenting current data on such timely topics as youth violence and school shootings.”

―Karen Franklin, Ph.D.                                                                                           Forensic Psychologist

“Elizabeth Englander has assembled and integrated a remarkable array of stateof-the-art research and theory on what is perhaps the most important problem facing the world today. Understanding Violence is an important sourcebook for theorists, researchers, activists, and practitioners.”

―Christopher Kilmartin, Ph.D                                                                                       University of Mary Washington

“Professor Englander has produced an outstanding overview of the factors implicated in a broad range of violent acts from child abuse to gang warfare, from school shootings to spousal homicide. The new edition will appeal not only to college students but to intelligent lay people as well; it brings us up to date in an insightful and accessible review of an incredibly important topic.”

―Jack Levin, Ph.D.                                                                                                        The Brudnick Professor of Sociology & Criminology at Northeastern University