Violence
Violence is an extreme form of aggression, such as assault, rape or murder.
Violence has many causes, including frustration, exposure to violent media, violence in the home or neighborhood and a tendency to see other people's actions as hostile even when they're not. Certain situations also increase the risk of aggression, such as drinking, insults and other provocations and environmental factors like heat and overcrowding.
Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology
What you can do
- Warning signs of youth violence
Learn how to recognize danger signs and keep anger from escalating out of control.
- Raising children to resist violence: What you can do
Children learn aggressive behavior early in life. Several strategies can help parents and others teach kids to manage their emotions without using violence.
Getting help
- Find a Psychologist
- Problem-Solving Program Teaches Kids How To Use Their Heads Instead of Their Fists
The path to world peace may begin in preschool, when children learn how to think their way through interpersonal challenges.
News
-
Partner abuse tied to spanking kids
August 23, 2010, Reuters
-
On the scale of evil, where do murderers rate?
August 21, 2010, NPR
-
Re-examining the bystander effect
June 29, 2010, BBC News
-
Violent crime affects children's test scores
June 21, 2010, The Boston Globe
-
Domestic violence victims have higher health costs for years after abuse ends
April 27, 2010, Medical News Today
Monitor on Psychology Articles
- Partnering to eliminate violence
May 2010
- Ending an epidemic
March 2010
- A journal for violence research
March 2010
- A life of service cut short
January 2010
- New insights on homelessness and violence
December 2009
Books
- Human Aggression and Violence
August 2010
- Risk Assessment for Domestically Violent Men
August 2009
- Preventing Violence
December 2005
- Preventing Sexual Violence
January 2005
APA Offices and Programs
- Violence Prevention
This area of Public Interest is responsible for disseminating research-based knowledge and information on violence and injury prevention.
- Violence Directed Against K-12 Teachers Task Force
This task force is in the process of producing materials for pre-service and in-service teachers. These resources will offer prevention and intervention tools for teachers facing violence, intimidation, and bullying in elementary and secondary school classrooms.