Violence Prevention and Intervention

Course Description:

This course also examines various theories of human aggression and violence, exploring their underlying assumptions about human nature and the causes of violence. Included is an introduction to a range of violence intervention and prevention approaches developed for use at the interpersonal, intergroup, and societal level. This course will also focus on a selection of classic readings in nonviolence – because ultimately the goal of violence prevention is nonviolence and peace. Also, these readings represent a body of thinking that gave birth to this discipline as a conscious focus and field of study by a group of scholars, practitioners, and activists from many different disciplines.

Course Objectives:

1. Understand the social causes of violence and the individual causes of violent behavior, and identify the possible relationship that exists between the causes of violence at the microlevel and the causes at the macrolevel.

2. Understand the biosocial model of violence and how this model applies to gangs, substance abuse, sexual assault, and spouse and child abuse.

3. Examine human rights and violence, integrating the private and public spheres.

4. Design strategies of violence prevention in the workplace and school communities.