Violence: A Micro-sociological Theory

(Paperback)

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Argues that violent confrontation goes against human physiological hardwiring. This book challenges standard views about the root causes of violence and offers solutions for confronting it in the future. It guides readers into the disturbing world of human discord - from domestic abuse and schoolyard bullying to muggings, and armed conflicts.

Reviews

Winner of the 2011 Distinguished Scholarly Publication Award, American Sociological Association "Collins's Violence is a sourcebook for the oft-ignored and usually unseen obvious: We humans are bad at violence, even if civilization makes us a bit better at it."--David D. Laitin, Science "Violence is a rare academic work, with both a convincing reappraisal of its scholarly terrain, and enough accessibility and useful advice to attract laymen. The writing is clear and direct--sometimes with a welcome touch of the colloquial--and well illustrated with photographs and charts."--Graeme Wood, New York Sun "Offering a wealth of observations...Randall Collins's overall theory is neat: violence is not easy, hence relatively rare. It is a compelling argument."--Jane Kilby, Times Higher Education "Insofar as his analysis has sought to highlight its micro-situational aspects, he must be applauded. In the future, only interdisciplinary research will be able to approach this topic with the same vigor, and coherence as Collins has provided us in this book."--Paul Armstrong, Canadian Journal of Sociology "The book is a superb commentary on how the emotional energy created by the situation of forward panic produces violence... Collin's exhaustive treatment of the forward panic is a major contribution to the literature and the term is certain to become a standard part of our vocabulary on violence."--John M. Hagedorn, Anthropos "Professor Collins has initiated a much needed discussion of violence, unencumbered by myth and make-believe... After reading this excellent and highly readable volume, there are few myths left remain standing!"--P. A. J. Waddington, Policing "[T]he book is a notable attempt to develop a general sociological theory of interpersonal violence, and anyone interested in violence and peace can learn a great deal from it."--Kristian Skrede Gleditsch, Journal of Peace Research "[A] deeply learned, thoughtful, and erudite book... [T]he complexity of thought and the clarity of exposition of this first volume leave the reader both fulfilled and eager. Like the greatest of classical sociological thinkers, Collins is both pointillist and abstract expressionist, synthesizing micro and macro, and always asserting the power of the social."--Michael Kimmel, American Journal of Sociology

Author Bio

Randall Collins is the Dorothy Swaine Thomas Professor of Sociology and a member of the Department of Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania. His books include "Interaction Ritual Chains" (Princeton) and "The Sociology of Philosophies: A Global Theory of Intellectual Change".