Evolutionary Psychology and Violence: A Primer for Policymakers and Public Policy Advocates

by Richard W. Bloom, Nancy Dess

Each chapter in this volume poses a public policy issue related to violence, describes aspects of evolutionary psychology that are relative, and then posits public policy recommendations based on this psychological model. Topics covered also include psychopathy, despotism, and suicide bombings. This volume is designed as an accessible way for policymakers outside of academia to learn about new theoretical developments.

Evolutionary psychology―a relatively new theoretical model of psychology―provides valuable and exciting insights on human violence and public policy issues related to human violence, from war and terrorism to rape and criminality. To this end, each chapter in this volume poses a public policy issues related to violence, describes aspects of evolutionary psychology that are relative and then posits public policy recommendations based on this psychological model. Topics covered also include psycopathy, despotism, and suicide bombings. This volume, designed as an accessible way for policymakers outside of academia to learn about new theoretical developments, also explodes the myths about evolutionary psychology, such as the false claim that it justifies immoral behavior or focuses only on humans' ugly underbelly.

While appealing to policymakers across foundations and agencies, this collection will also interest scholars and teachers focused on evolutionary psychology, public policy, criminal justice, security, public affairs, sociology, and anthropology.

Genres: Politics

304 pages, Hardcover

First published March 30, 2003

Reviews

[Steven Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evolutionary psychology provides the theoretical framework for examining violence. Edited volumes are often a mixed bag, and this work is no exception. Nonetheless, overall, a thought provoking volume.

Examples of such intriguing work. . . . Roger Masters examines trhe effects of toxins, through brain function, on violent crime. Or Linda Mealey on how an evolutionary psychology perspective might address the issue of rape.

All in all, an interesting volume.