Violence - An Interdisciplinary Approach to Causes, Consequences, and Cures

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.

List 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 1

About the author

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.

Summary

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.

Product details

• Authors: Bandy X Lee, Bandy X. Lee, Bandy X. (Yale University Lee, Bx Lee
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.06.2019
• EAN: 9781119240686
• ISBN: 978-1-119-24068-6
• No. of pages: 336
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Sociological theories; Gewalt, Psychologie, Politikwissenschaft, Kriminologie, Law, Political Science, Criminology, Psychology, Rechtswissenschaft, Allg. Psychologie, Political Revolution / Violence / Terrorism, Politische Revolution, Gewalt, Terrorismus