Male Violence

Most human violence is carried out by men; yet a book which highlights this, with the title "Male Violence", aims to be very different from one simply called "Human Violence". The contributors to "Male Violence" take as their starting point not the generality of aggression in the human species, but the predominantly male nature of most acts of violence. Male violence is clearly a problem in the modern world, and may even be "the" major source of human suffering. It is, however, intractable, as it is deeply rooted in biology and culture, and is supported by male vested interests of many kinds. The book contains contributions from psychologists who have studied the many faces of male violence: in childhood and adulthood; on the street and in the home; towards men, women and children; and in its sexual and non-sexual forms. Such varied topics, together with emphasis on naturalistic rather than laboratory-based investigations, distinguish these researchers from those aiming to make generalizations about human aggression without considering issues of sex and gender. In later chapters, a variety of theoretical frameworks are brought to bear on this subject.