Psychology of Violence: Individual, Group, and Community Perspectives

Violence emerges from complex interactions between individuals, groups, and broader social systems. This two-week seminar examines violence through psychological, social, and structural lenses.

Students will explore individual risk factors such as personality traits, trauma histories, and impulsivity, while also analyzing how group processes—including deindividuation, moral disengagement, and radicalization—can escalate aggression into collective violence. The course further examines how community conditions, systemic inequities, and cultural narratives shape both the expression and prevention of violence.

A focused unit addresses psychopathy and sociopathy, drawing on empirical research and diagnostic frameworks to critically evaluate common myths and media portrayals. Throughout the course, students will apply theory to real-world case studies of notorious offenders, practicing careful ethical reasoning and trauma-informed analysis. Emphasis is placed not only on understanding violence but also on identifying evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies at multiple levels. By integrating research, discussion, and applied analysis, the course equips students with a nuanced, multi-level understanding of violent behavior and prepares them to think critically about policy, practice, and prevention.