Psychology Library Editions: Aggression – serie

Originally published between 1954 and 1995, the 5 volumes in this set look at aggression from a primarily psychological perspective. Covering issues such as: how aggression is reported in the media; the link between aggression and delinquency; children’s mental health and the effect on parents; and how to prevent or modify aggressive behaviour. The books give an overview of the theories and research available at the time.

Originally published in 1986, this is a nonscientific book about science. It is concerned with the relationships among social science, journalism, public information, and public policy. Reporting Science: The Case of Aggression explores some of the obstacles – and suggestions for overcoming them – to the mutual exchange of information when that information concerns research and theory on a sensitive issue, in this instance, violence.Among the issues explored are:What is the social scientist’s responsibility, if any, for the public dissemination of his or her work?How accurate are mass media reports of scientific research on such socially sensitive issues as violence and the effects of mass media portrayals of sex and aggression?How do science journalists select particular pieces of research for study?How can interested scientists more effectively present their work to the public?What are the ethical issues involved in greater scientist-journalist cooperation?

Originally published in 1986, this is a nonscientific book about science. It is concerned with the relationships among social science, journalism, public information, and public policy. Reporting Science: The Case of Aggression explores some of the obstacles – and suggestions for overcoming them – to the mutual exchange of information when that information concerns research and theory on a sensitive issue, in this instance, violence.Among the issues explored are:What is the social scientist’s responsibility, if any, for the public dissemination of his or her work?How accurate are mass media reports of scientific research on such socially sensitive issues as violence and the effects of mass media portrayals of sex and aggression?How do science journalists select particular pieces of research for study?How can interested scientists more effectively present their work to the public?What are the ethical issues involved in greater scientist-journalist cooperation?

Originally published in 1954, this was a new study of aggressive behaviour and phantasies in children of school age, combining the scientific-experimental with the clinical approach. It was, therefore, at the time, likely to be of interest both to experimental psychologists and to clinicians, as well as to all who worked in the fields of child guidance and mental health and were concerned with the welfare of children, including parents and teachers. The author’s group studies of normal, neurotic and delinquent children, made with the help a specially designed pictorial projection test, and the individual studies of her young patients demonstrated objectively the close connection between the forms taken by the aggressive impulse of the child and their relationships with the members of their family.The writer re-defines the concept of aggression, taking a closely argued view that the aggressive urge is a manifestation of the vital impulse to self-realization through exploratory and constructive activities, and that destructive aggression arises only when the ways to constructive activities are blocked at an early age. This theory, with its wide social and educational implications, is put forward as a well-reasoned and hopeful alternative to the traditional view which represents aggressive behaviour as an outcome of an instinct by its very nature asocial and destructive.

Originally published in 1954, this was a new study of aggressive behaviour and phantasies in children of school age, combining the scientific-experimental with the clinical approach. It was, therefore, at the time, likely to be of interest both to experimental psychologists and to clinicians, as well as to all who worked in the fields of child guidance and mental health and were concerned with the welfare of children, including parents and teachers. The author’s group studies of normal, neurotic and delinquent children, made with the help a specially designed pictorial projection test, and the individual studies of her young patients demonstrated objectively the close connection between the forms taken by the aggressive impulse of the child and their relationships with the members of their family.The writer re-defines the concept of aggression, taking a closely argued view that the aggressive urge is a manifestation of the vital impulse to self-realization through exploratory and constructive activities, and that destructive aggression arises only when the ways to constructive activities are blocked at an early age. This theory, with its wide social and educational implications, is put forward as a well-reasoned and hopeful alternative to the traditional view which represents aggressive behaviour as an outcome of an instinct by its very nature asocial and destructive.

Originally published in 1976, this volume is organized about two central themes: the experimental analysis of aggression, and the application of learning principles to the prevention and modification of delinquency. The chapters, all new and original at the time, demonstrate how the problems of aggression, which had been interpreted in diverse ways, can be analyzed under controlled laboratory conditions. In addition, the contributors offer an explanation of how behavior modification techniques, derived from this knowledge, can be used for preventive purposes.Because of the social nature of aggression and delinquency, behavior change techniques were principally aimed at modifying environmental influences. The contributions to this volume illustrate how behavioral scientists may aid in the understanding and amelioration of conditions that give rise to violence. Today it can be read and enjoyed in its historical context.

Originally published in 1976, this volume is organized about two central themes: the experimental analysis of aggression, and the application of learning principles to the prevention and modification of delinquency. The chapters, all new and original at the time, demonstrate how the problems of aggression, which had been interpreted in diverse ways, can be analyzed under controlled laboratory conditions. In addition, the contributors offer an explanation of how behavior modification techniques, derived from this knowledge, can be used for preventive purposes.Because of the social nature of aggression and delinquency, behavior change techniques were principally aimed at modifying environmental influences. The contributions to this volume illustrate how behavioral scientists may aid in the understanding and amelioration of conditions that give rise to violence. Today it can be read and enjoyed in its historical context.

Originally published in 1995, this book describes and analyzes the way urban parents view the problems of their adolescent children, and the way they have tried to cope with and seek help for them. Based on the study of parents as third-party help-seekers in and around Newark, New Jersey, the book sheds light on the types of problems experienced by adolescents in similar communities throughout the country.By focusing on the parents, who usually bring the youth into the legal or mental health system, this book provides numerous unique insights into the nature of problems among urban youths. It describes how certain legal and psychological problems often coexist, examines the reasons for this, and shows how this knowledge can be used to improve the delivery of youth and family services.

Originally published in 1995, this book describes and analyzes the way urban parents view the problems of their adolescent children, and the way they have tried to cope with and seek help for them. Based on the study of parents as third-party help-seekers in and around Newark, New Jersey, the book sheds light on the types of problems experienced by adolescents in similar communities throughout the country.By focusing on the parents, who usually bring the youth into the legal or mental health system, this book provides numerous unique insights into the nature of problems among urban youths. It describes how certain legal and psychological problems often coexist, examines the reasons for this, and shows how this knowledge can be used to improve the delivery of youth and family services.

The despair and incomprehension that often seem to be the only possible response to acts of aggression and violence have led to attempts by academics and writers from a wide variety of backgrounds to understand and explain such behaviour. The concern and anxiety that is felt by many people about this subject is such that some of their accounts – notably by Konrad Lorenz, Desmond Morris, Robert Ardrey, and Anthony Storr – have become popular and even best-selling books.Originally published in 1985, Accounting for Aggression provides a comprehensive synthesis and assessment of these writings and other contemporary theory and research on aggression and violence at the time. The author presents a variety of accounts of aggression, drawing on original work in the areas of biology, sociobiology, ethology, psychology and sociology. Each account is evaluated according both to the criteria of scientific methodology and to the extent to which it illuminates our understanding and appears to have a lasting explanatory value. In the last chapter the author presents an integrative approach to the subject area which synthesizes those findings for which there appears to be substantial empirical support, within a framework of the meaning that aggressive and violent behaviour offers to those who carry it out.Accounting for Aggression will be of great value to students and practitioners in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, social work and education. Furthermore, it will be welcomed by interested members of the general public who are concerned with issues such as whether or not violence is inherent in human nature, the extent to which interpersonal violence is related to group violence, and the extent to which violence in the media affects violent behaviour.