Theoretical Models of Violence and Aggression

It has been said that any person can become aggressive or violent under certain circumstances (e.g., when at war, protecting oneself or loved ones). Violence can be collective (i.e., between nations or groups), interpersonal (e.g., child or elder abuse, intimate partner violence), or intrapersonal (i.e., self-directed). Agencies such as the World Health Organization routinely call for increased prevention and intervention approaches to reduce violence, regardless of type. Within the criminal justice context, according to Uniform Crime Reporting statistics from 2016, there were an estimated 386.3 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants in the United States and 1,071 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants in Canada. One challenge regarding such rates is the definition of violent crime. The rate varies considerably based on definition; in Canada, the rate ...