The Routledge International Handbook of Human Aggression ─ Current Issues and Perspectives

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 trait 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.

Professor 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. 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). Professor Ireland has over 150 publications in forensic psychology, the majority of which fall within the area of aggression.

Dr Philip Birch is a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the Centre for Law & Justice, Charles Sturt University, Australia. He has previously held posts at UWS and UNSW, Australia as well as at the University of Huddersfield, UK. Prior to entering academia Philip worked as a criminologist in the field holding posts in the UK prison service and the wider crime and disorder field, which involved managing a specialist crime unit. Along with Professor Jane Ireland, Philip is the co-founder and Editor-in-chief of the Journal of Criminological Research, Policy & Practice.

Dr Carol A Ireland is a Chartered Psychologist, Consultant Forensic Psychologist and Chartered Scientist. She works for 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, Merseycare NHS Trust.