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.
Table of Contents
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
Macro‐Scale Political Science Theories 111
Micro‐Scale Political Science Theories 113
Microeconomic Perspectives 114
Macroeconomic Perspectives 115
Concepts of Power 116
Conclusion 118
References 119
7 Structural Violence 123
Introduction 123
Origins of the Concept 124
Case Vignettes 127
A Prison Inmate’s Predicament 127
A Poor Child’s Martyrdom 127
A Lead Into Collective Violence 128
A Lead Into Self‐Directed Violence 129
Healthcare, Nutrition, and Liberty Disparities 130
Gender, Racial, and Voting Rights Disparities 132
Expansion of the Concept 133
The Most Potent Stimulant 135
Conclusion 136
References 138
8 Environmental (and Nuclear) Violence 143
Introduction 143
Clarifying Misconceptions 144
Furthering the Concept 145
Case Vignettes 147
Violence Over Diminishing Resources 147
Premature Deaths due to Lack of Water 147
Migrations Due to Climate Change 148
Nuclear Devastation 149
Political Economy and Scarcity 150
Resource Curse and Violent Dispossession 151
Secondary Violence from the Environment 152
The Perils of Nuclear War 153
Conclusion 155
References 156
Consequences
Part IV Life Cycle Framework 161
9 Consequences of Violence 163
Introduction 163
Case Vignettes 164
Child Abuse and Neglect 164
Veteran Partner Violence 166
Financial and Physical Elder Abuse 167
Medical Consequences of Rape 168
Wartime Collective Sexual Violence 169
Self‐Directed Violence 170
Youth, Intimate Partner, and Sexual Violence 171
Child Maltreatment and Elder Abuse 173
Collective Violence 174
Consequences of Trauma 175
Conclusion 176
References 177
Cures
Part V Intervention Framework 183
10 Criminal Justice Approaches 185
Introduction 185
Historical Overview 186
Restoration versus Retribution 188
Discrimination and Legitimacy 191
Reform versus Abolition 192
Case Studies 194
Scandinavian Prisons 194
Prison Meditation 195
Prison Animal Therapy 195
Youth Violence Prevention 196
Prison Violence Prevention Programming 196
Conclusion 197
References 199
11 International Law Approaches 204
Introduction 204
Historical Background 205
International Legal Structures 206
Challenges and Successes 208
Abuses and the Difficulty of Enforcement 209
Changing Landscapes 211
Case Studies 214
A and Others v. the UK (2004) 214
Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro (2007) 215
Andriciuc and Others v. Banca Romanească SA (2017) 215
F v. Bevandorlasi es Allampolgarsagi Hivatal (2018) 216
Quinteros v. Uruguay (1983) 216
Conclusion 217
References 218
Cures (Continued)
Part VI Prevention Framework 225
12 Public Health Approaches 227
Introduction 227
History 228
The Ecological Framework 230
A Typology of Violence 231
The Public Health Method 232
Violence Prevention 232
Multisectoral Collaboration 234
Challenges and Possibilities 236
Case Studies 238
A Prenatal Care Program 238
Family Violence Prevention 239
School‐Based Violence Prevention 240
Bullying Prevention 240
Firearm Restriction Policies 241
Conclusion 242
References 243
13 Global Medicine Approaches 248
Introduction 248
Historical Background 249
Human‐Centered Healthcare 251
A CARE Model 253
A Creative Model 256
Local and Global 258
Case Studies 259
Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) 259
Cure Violence 260
Mercy Corps 261
One Acre Fund 261
The Library Project 262
Conclusion 262
References 263
14 Nonviolence Approaches 268
Introduction 268
Historical Basis 269
More Recent Examples 270
Criticisms 272
Basic Tenets 273
Applications 274
Case Studies 276
A Beacon of Hope Amid Racial Discrimination 276
Fighting the Good Fight 277
The Father of a Nation 278
Lessons From a War Zone 279
The Monk With a Cause 280
Conclusion 281
References 283
Conclusion
Part VII Overview and Analysis 287
15 Synthesis and Integration 289
Introduction 289
The Endgame of Violence 290
The Threat of Nuclear War 293
The Threat of Climate Catastrophe 295
The Threat of Escalating Inequality 296
The Fruits of Integration 298
The Power of Unity 299
Conclusion 302
References 303
Index 308
