Aggression and Violence
A Social Psychological Perspective
Frontiers of Social Psychology Series

This book provides a broad and contemporary overview of aggression and violence by some of the most internationally renowned researchers in the field. It begins with an integrative theoretical understanding of aggression and shows how animal models shed light on human aggression and violence.

Individual risk factors for aggression and violence from different research perspectives are then examined. First, there is a cognitive neuroscientific, neuropsychological, and psychophysiological study of the brain. It then explores the developmental psychological factors in aggressive behavior, incorporating work on gender and the family. Other perspectives include the role of testosterone, individual differences, and whether humans are innately wired for violence.

The following sections moves from the individual to the contextual risk factors for aggression, including work on the effects of adverse events and ostracism, guns and other aggressive cues including violent media, and drugs and alcohol.

Targets of aggression and violence are covered in the next section, including violence against women and loved ones; aggression between social groups; and the two very contemporary issues of cyberbullying and terrorism.

The book concludes with work showing how we may make the world a more peaceful place by preventing and reducing aggression and violence.

The volume is essential reading for upper-level students and researchers of psychology and related disciplines interested in a rigorous and multi-perspective overview of work on aggression and violence.

Part 1: Understanding the Roots of Aggression and Violence in Humans. An Integrative Theoretical Understanding of Aggression, L.R. Huesmann. Animal Models: Implications for Human Aggression and Violence, S. de Boer. Part 2: Individual Risk Factors for Aggression and Violence. The Aggressive Brain, B.D. Bartholow. Development of Aggression in Males and Females, J.E. Lansford. Family Influences on Aggression and Violence, M.H. Labella, A. Masten. Testosterone and Aggression, J. Archer, J. Carré. Individual Differences in Aggression: The Role of Dark Personalities, D.L. Paulhus, D.N. Jones. Appetitive Aggression, T. Elbert, J.K. Moran, M. Schauer. Part 3: Contextual Risk Factors for Aggression and Violence. Aversive Events and Aggression, C.L. Groves, C.A. Anderson. Ostracism and Aggression, E.D. Wesselmann, K.D. Williams. Gun Violence, W. Cukier, S.A. Eagen, G. Decat. Aggressive Cues: Weapons and Violent Media, B.J. Bushman. Alcohol and Other Drugs, D.J. Parrott, C. Eckhardt. Part 4: Targets of Aggression and Violence. Cyberbullying: A Critical Overview, D. Olweus. Violence Against Women, B. Krahé. Love and Hurt: Why We Aggress Against Loved Ones, C.N. DeWall, K.R. Lynch, C.M. Renzetti. Aggression Between Social Groups, J. Densley, J. Peterson. The Psychology of Terrorism, D. Webber, A.W. Kruglanski. Part 5: Making the World a More Peaceful Place. Preventing and Reducing Aggression and Violence, F. Anwar, D.P. Fry, I. Grigaityte.

Brad J. Bushman (Ph.D. 1989, University of Missouri) is a Professor of Communication and Psychology at The Ohio State University, and a Professor of Communication Science at the VU University Amsterdam. He holds the Rinehart Chair of Mass Communication. For over 25 years he has studied the causes, consequences, and solutions to the problem of human aggression and violence.