Description
Vision and Scope for this Handbook
The Wiley Handbook on the Psychology of Violence is an interdisciplinary exploration of all the major elements in the study of violence and victimization. Our vision for this book was to bring together a group of scholars, covering a variety of disciplines that examine violence in our society, including those in psychology, criminology, social work, and public health. The result of this approach is a comprehensive text that cuts across disciplines, resulting in a cornerstone handbook on this important topic.
Although the book is divided into mainstream silos of violence research, we aimed for a text that addresses the diversity and overlap of victimization and violence experiences, including polyvictimization and revictimization dynamics, methodological and data issues particular to violence research, and a more general evaluation of violence dynamics. Also included in the handbook is valuable information on the social construction of violence, cybercrime, and the role of the Internet and social media in violence (e.g., enticement of minors online, the role of technology in stalking). Another key vision of this text was to focus on populations and areas of violence and victimization that have been understudied, such as ethnic minorities, the LGBTIQ community, and those with disabilities. Our hope is to help bring attention to these populations, fill voids, and promote scholarly work and services for them.
Contributions in this book are authored by a diverse group of well known scholars in the field of violence and victimization from the United States and abroad. The book is organized into seven major parts based on different areas of violence focus: general issues in violence and victimization, general violence, juvenile violence, family violence, partner violence, sexual violence, cybercrime, and underserved/understudied populations.
Finally, we realize that our knowledge in the area of violence is fluid and continually evolving. As such, we felt it was important to provide some ideas about where the field needs to go in these varying arenas of violence. Each part therefore ends with a chapter that discusses some ideas about future directions in the study of violence and victimization.