The Routledge International Handbook of Human Aggression

Drawing upon international expertise, and including some of the most well-known academics and practitioners in the field, The Routledge International Handbook of Human Aggression is the first reference work to fully capture how our understanding of aggression has been refined and reconceptualised in recent years.

Divided into five sections, the handbook covers some of the most interesting and timely topics within human aggression research, with analysis of both indirect and direct forms of aggression, and including chapters on sexual aggression, workplace bullying, animal abuse, gang violence and female aggression. It recognises that, in many cases, aggression is an adaptive choice rather than a moral choice.

Providing practitioners and academics with an up-to-date resource that covers broad areas of interest and application, the book will be essential reading for students, researchers and practitioners associated with a range of social science disciplines, including psychology, criminology, social work and sociology, particularly those with an interest in developmental, organisational, forensic and criminal justice allied disciplines.

Jane L. Ireland is a Forensic Psychologist, Chartered Psychologist and Chartered Scientist. Professor Ireland holds a professorial chair at the University of Central Lancashire and is Violence Treatment Lead within High Secure Services, Ashworth Hospital, Mersey Care NHS Trust. She is elected academy fellow of the Council of the Academy of Social Sciences and fellow of the International Society for Research on Aggression (ISRA). She holds three further (visiting/honorary) professorships at Åbo Akademi University in Finland, Charles Sturt University, Australia and Cardiff Metropolitan University. She has over 150 publications in forensic psychology, the majority of which fall within the area of aggression.

Philip Birch, BSocSci.(Hons); PG Cert (HEP); PG Cert. (SSRM); PG Dip (SocSci); MSc; PhD is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology in the Centre for Law and Justice at Charles Sturt University, Australia. He has previously held posts at the University of Western Sydney, the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia and the University of Huddersfield, in the UK. Prior to entering academia, Philip worked as a criminologist in the field, holding posts in the UK prison service as well as in the crime and disorder field, which involved managing a specialist crime unit. Philip has published internationally, including books, book chapters, peer-reviewed articles and government reports in his main areas of research – offender management and rehabilitation; police, prisons and probation practices; gender symmetry violence with a particular focus on domestic family violence and sex work. He has secured over $790,000 in research grants, which have addressed a variety of themes within his areas of expertise. Philip holds an honorary research fellowship at the Institute of Positive Psychology and Education, Australia Catholic University and in the School of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, UK, as well as being a Senior Research Associate in the Ashworth Research Centre, Mersey Health Care, National Health Services, UK. Philip is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice and currently sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research.

Carol A. Ireland, PhD, is a Chartered Psychologist, Consultant Forensic Psychologist and Chartered Scientist. She works for Coastal Child and Adult Therapeutic Services – CCATS (www.ccats. org.uk), which is a community-based child and adult therapeutic service in the UK, and where she is the Sex Offender Lead, further leading on matters linked to sexual exploitation. She also works at the University of Central Lancashire, where she is the Director of Studies for the MSc in Forensic Psychology, as well as the Senior Research Lead at the Ashworth Research Centre, Ashworth Hospital, Mersey Care NHS Trust.