PSY 3470 - Psychology of Violence and Aggression

3(3 + 0)

Prerequisite: PSY 1001; and three additional hours of psychology course work

This course provides an in-depth overview of contrasting theoretical approaches to the explanation, prediction, and control of violent and aggressive behaviors, including psychobiological, radical behaviorism, social learning, cognitive social learning, and psychopathological approaches. Specific behavioral foci include youth violence, criminal violence, inner-city gang violence, white-collar aggression, combat, terrorism, sexual violence, self-mutilation, etc., from both legal and psychological perspectives. This course explores socialization systems leading to the development of aggressive and violent behavioral tendencies and factors facilitating the maintenance of these dispositions. Prevention and intervention strategies are considered.