Sociology of Violence

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Sociology Advanced Seminar: This course provides a sociological examination of not only interpersonal violence, but also how violence manifests on the institutional and structural levels. Violence, initially, can be defined as "any action or structural arrangement that results in physical or nonphysical harm to one or more persons" (Barak, 2003). Throughout the course we will be asking several questions, including: What are the (social) dynamics of violence? and Who is affected by violence and how are they affected? An important question will be: How do we respond to violence (and victimization) with empathy? The course also examines modes of research on violence, public policies for addressing violence in society, and efforts toward nonviolence.