Family and social violence

What goes on in the minds of people who commit acts of violence? Those who kill a friend or complete stranger? Those who sexually assault a child? What motivates these people to act in ways that are immoral and incomprehensible to the majority of the population? Although there are no simple answers to these questions, this book on family and social violence offers some insights into the internal dynamics and psychosocial and intrapsychic issues of the perpetrators of various forms of violence against others. This book offers an understanding of the psychic functioning of individuals who commit domestic and social violence, and, through a psychodynamic perspective, helps us to grasp the irrationality and meaning of violent acts. It highlights the factors that seem to underlie violent behavior, and suggests ways of preventing and intervening to meet the needs of these individuals. This book is aimed at students, teachers, researchers, clinicians and all those working in the field of family and social violence, or even those in contact with clients at risk of violence. Through the exploration and elaboration of clinical portraits of perpetrators of domestic violence, marital and extra-familial homicide, mass homicide and even sexual violence, this collective work will enable readers to link theoretical and empirical knowledge to clinical reality.