Violence

A comprehensive overview of the integrative study of violence

Violence continues to be one of the most urgent global public health problems that contemporary society faces. Suicides and homicides are increasing at an alarming rate, particularly in younger age groups and lower-income countries. Historically, the study of violence has been fragmented across disparate fields of study with little cross-disciplinary collaboration, thus creating a roadblock to decoding the underlying processes that give rise to violence and hindering efforts in research and prevention. Violence: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Causes, Consequences, and Cures assembles and organizes current information into one comprehensive volume, introducing students to the multiple sectors, disciplines, and practices that collectively comprise the study of violence.

This innovative textbook presents a unified perspective that integrates the sociological, biological, politico-economic, structural, and environmental underpinnings of violence. Each chapter examines a distinct point of learning, beginning with an overview of the content and concluding with discussion questions and an analytical summary. The chapters focus on key domains of research encouraging interdisciplinary investigation and helping students to develop critical analytical skills and form their own conclusions.

• Fills a significant gap in the field by providing a coherent text that consolidates information on the multiple aspects of violence

• Examines current legal, medical, public health, and policy approaches to violence prevention and their application within a global context

• Illustrates how similar causes of violence may have dissimilar manifestations

• Presents a multidisciplinary examination of the symptoms and underlying processes of violence

• Offers a thorough yet accessible learning framework to undergraduate and graduate students without prior knowledge of the study of violence

More than just an accumulation of facts and data, this essential text offers a broad introduction to a thinking process that can produce rigorous scholarship across disciplines and lead to a deeper understanding of violence in its many forms.

Autorentext

Bandy X. Lee, MD, MDiv, is on the faculty of Yale School of Medicine's Law and Psychiatry Division, USA. She has taught at Yale Law School for over fifteen years and has served as project group leader for the Violence Prevention Alliance of the World Health Organization. She has also consulted with UNESCO and other United Nations bodies, helped initiate reforms at New York City's Rikers Island Correctional Center, and co-founded Yale's Violence and Health Study Group. Dr. Lee teaches a range of courses on violence including "Violence: Causes and Cures." She has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and edited 13 academic books.

Klappentext

A comprehensive overview of the integrative study of violence

Violence continues to be one of the most urgent global public health problems that contemporary society faces. Suicides and homicides continue at unacceptably high rates, particularly in younger age groups and lower-income countries, while the fate of humankind depends on its ability to curb its own collective violence. Historically, the study of violence has been fragmented across disparate fields of study with little cross-disciplinary collaboration, thus creating a roadblock to decoding the underlying processes that give rise to violence and hindering efforts in research and prevention. Violence: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Causes, Consequences, and Cures assembles and organizes current information into one comprehensive volume, introducing students to the multiple sectors, disciplines, and practices that collectively comprise the study of violence.

This innovative textbook presents a unified perspective that integrates the sociological, biological, politico-economic, structural, and environmental underpinnings of violence. Each chapter examines a distinct point of learning, beginning with an overview of the content and concluding with discussion questions and an analytical summary. The chapters focus on key domains of research encouraging interdisciplinary investigation and helping students to develop critical analytical skills and form their own conclusions.

• Fills a significant gap in the field by providing a coherent text that consolidates information on the multiple aspects of violence
• Examines current legal, medical, public health, and policy approaches to violence prevention and their application within a global context
• Illustrates how similar causes of violence may have dissimilar manifestations
• Presents a multidisciplinary examination of the symptoms and underlying processes of violence
• Offers a thorough yet accessible learning framework to undergraduate and graduate students without prior knowledge of the study of violence
  More than just an accumulation of facts and data, this essential text offers a broad introduction to a thinking process that can produce rigorous scholarship across disciplines and lead to a deeper understanding of violence in its many forms.

Inhalt

Preface xiii

Overview

Part I General Framework 1

1 Introduction 3

A Brief Introduction 3

Defining Violence 4

Redefining Violence 5

Examples of Violence 6

The Iliad 6

The Khmer Rouge 7

A Case of Child Neglect 7

Suicide by Gun 8

Connecting the Dots 8

A New Field 10

A New Awareness 12

Structure of the Text 15

What to Expect 17

Conclusion 18

References 19

Causes

Part II Intra-/Interpersonal Framework 23

2 The Biology of Violence 25

Introduction 25

The Tempting Idea 26

Case Vignettes 28

The Case of Phineas Gage 28

Familial Depression 29

Traumatic Brain Injury and Posttraumatic Stress 30

Postpartum Depression and Psychosis 31

Aggression versus Violence 31

Mental Illness and Violence 32

The Neuroplastic Brain 34

Environment and Epigenetics 35

The Interconnected Whole 36

Conclusion 38

References 39

3 The Psychology of Violence 45

Introduction 45

One Among Many 47

Case Vignettes 48

Clinical Depression 48

Antisocial Personality 49

Extreme Narcissism 50

Heat of Passion 51

The Mind as Iceberg 52

Some Defense Mechanisms 53

The Mind as Paradox 54

A Developmental Matter 56

Positive Psychology 57

Conclusion 58

References 60

4 The Symbolism (or Spiritual Causes) of Violence 64

Introduction 64

Violence and Meaning 65

Case Vignettes 66

Mythological Violence 66

Cycle of Revenge 67

Cult Violence 68

Mob Violence 69

A Longing for Life 70

A Forbidden Concept 71

Violence in Religion and Art 73

Meaning and Moral Development 74

Compassion and Creativity 76

Conclusion 77

References 78

Causes (Continued)

Part III Social and Societal Framework 83

5 The Sociology and Anthropology of Violence 85

Introduction 85

Evolution of Sociology 86

Evolution of Anthropology 87

Case Vignettes 88

A Cult of End Times 88

Social Exclusion 90

Social Negation 90

Warring Peoples 91

Domestic Terrorism 92

Sociological Theories 93

Anthropological Perspectives 95

Need for Belonging 97

Conclusion 98

References 99

6 The Political Science and Economics of Violence 104

Introduction 104

Evolution of the Two Disciplines 105

Case Vignettes 106

A Separatist Movement 106

Apartheid 108

Social Engineering 109

Rape as a Weapon of War 110

Military Dictatorship 110

MacroScale Political Science Theories 111

MicroScale Political Science Theories 113

Microeconomic Perspectives 114

Macroeconomic Perspectives 115

Concepts of Power 116

Conclusion 118

References 119

7 Structural Violence 123

Introduction 1…