Anger, aggresion, and violence : an interdisciplinary approach /

Robbins (a psychologist in private practice in Maryland and author of Romantic Relationships, CH, Apr'97, and Understanding Depression, CH, Dec'93, among numerous other titles) bases this book on the assumption that understanding violence requires an examination of anger and aggression. In the first three chapters the author defines anger and aggression and relevant literature, and discusses aggression and violent behavior in a cultural context. In chapter 4 he draws on research from developmental psychology to consider how aggressive and violent behaviors may be learned; in chapter 5 he discusses the implications of anger and aggression for the individual and his/her health and relationships. Chapters 6 and 7 focus on alcohol use and exposure to media violence, factors that may provoke aggressive behavior; chapter 8 expands the focus to violence in communities. Robbins concludes with a discussion of prevention and treatment of violence, and a chapter that offers clinicians strategies for anger control. Writing in a simple and straightforward manner, Robbins offers a good overview of the literature (though he draws heavily on published reviews from scholarly journals, some of them outdated) and reasonable discussion of complex topics. Most useful to beginning undergraduates and general readers, and to clinicians maintaining comprehensive collections. C. S. Widom; University of Dentistry and Medicine of New Jersey