"In this book, Elizabeth Kandel Englander sorts, structures, and evaluates violence hypotheses. She draws on contemporary research and theory in varied fields - clinical and social psychology, sociology, criminology, psychiatry, social work, neuropsychology, behavioral genetics, and education - to present a uniquely balanced, integrated, and readable summary of what we currently know about the causes and effects of violence.

Throughout, she emphasizes the necessity of distinguishing among different types of violent behavior and of realizing that nature and nurture interact in human development. There are no simple answers, and many well-accepted "facts" must be challenged." "This thoroughly revised and expanded second edition of Understanding Violence will be welcomed by all those concerned with violent offenders and their victims, and by their students and trainees."--BOOK JACKET.