In this volume, Berkowitz develops the argument that experiential and behavioral components of an emotional state are affected by many processes: some are highly cognitive in nature; others are automatic and involuntary. Cognitive and associative mechanisms theoretically come into play at different times in the emotion-cognition sequence. The model he proposes, therefore, integrates theoretical positions that previously have been artificially segregated in much of the emotion-cognition literature. The breadth of the implications of Berkowitz's theory is also reflected in the diversity of this book's companion chapters. Written by researchers whose work focuses on both social cognition and emotion, these articles provide important insights and possible extensions of the "cognitive-neoassociationistic" conceptualization developed in the target article. Although each chapter is a valuable contribution in its own right, this volume, taken as a whole, is a timely and important contribution both to social cognition and to research and theory on emotion per se.

Authors from Europe and the USA give a summary in this book of the current psychological knowledge about the socialization determinants of human aggressive behavior development and outline theoretical perspectives as wellas directions of future research. Thus, the volume includes theoretical and conceptual chapters concerning socialization and sources of aggression (Part I), chapters presenting a summary of empirical researchon early developmental determinants of aggressive and antisocial behavior patterns (Part II), chapters on the effects of social norms and education onaggression in children and youth (Part III), and finally contributions analyzing relationship between aggression as a psychological phenomenon and socio-cultural phenomena and processes (Part IV). The contributing authors have outstanding research experience and significant publications on socialization and aggression development. Their studies are embedded in various philosophical traditions and specific socio-cultural experiences; the book therefore provides a wide range of approaches and syntheses of current research.

In recent years, a great deal has been written on the topic of aggression; another book on the same topic might seem superfluous at this time. However, the present volume is not just-or even primarily-about aggres sion. It is, rather, a book on anger. Anger and aggression are closely related phenomena, and it is not possible to discuss one without the other. Yet, not all anger is aggressive, nor can all aggression be attributed to anger. Therefore, somewhat different considerations apply to each. Even more importantly, the type of theoretical generalizations one can make differs depending upon whether the primary focus is on anger or aggression. The present volume is subtitled "an essay on emotion." This indicates that the generalizations to be drawn have more to do with emotional responses (e.g., grief, love, envy, etc.) than with various forms of aggression (e.g., riots, war, crimes of violence, etc.). Stated somewhat differently, anger is here being used as a paradigm case for the study of emotion, not for the study of aggression.

The leading theoretical models that explain aggression are discussed and applied to the analysis of several kinds of real-life aggressive behavior, such as sexual violence, aggression in close relationships, bullying, and the activities of spectators at sporting events.

Since classical times, philosophers and physicians have identified anger as a human frailty that can lead to violence and human suffering, but with the development of a modern science of abnormal psychology and mental disorders, it has been written off as merely an emotional symptom and excluded from most accepted systems of psychiatric diagnosis. Yet despite the lack of scientific recognition, anger-related violence is often in the news, and courts are increasingly mandating anger management treatment. It is time for a fresh scientific examination of one of the most fundamental human emotions and what happens when it becomes pathological, and this thorough, persuasive book offers precisely such a probing analysis.Using both clinical data and a variety of case studies, esteemed anger researchers Raymond A. DiGiuseppe and Raymond Chip Tafrate argue for a new diagnostic classification, Anger Regulation and Expression Disorder, that will help bring about clinical improvements and increased scientific understanding of anger. After situating anger in both historical and emotional contexts, they report research that supports the existence of several subtypes of the disorder and review treatment outcome studies and new interventions to improve treatment. The first book that fully explores anger as a clinical phenomenon and provides a reliable set of assessment criteria, it represents a major step toward establishing the clear definitions and scientific basis necessary for assessing, diagnosing, and treating anger disorders.

Human aggression is a fascinating research topic, but it is of much more than academic importance. To a large extent, the quality of life and perhaps even world survival depend on an adequate understanding of human aggression. Family vi o lence (child battering and spouse abuse), rape, assault, armed robbery, murder, terrorism, and war are all instances of various types of aggression. The ability to regulate and control such acts could have a crucial contribution to the improvement of the quality of life. Aggressive acts in children and youth need to be under stood for three major reasons. First, most Western cultures are witnessing an increasing involvement in violence by youths. Second, the aggressive dispositions formed early in life may set the tone for or contribute to adult aggression. Third, the quality of childhood and the formation of personal ity are influenced by both the expression and inhibition of aggression. The regulation and control of aggression in children and youth can have a profound effect on the institu tions of the family and the educational system as well as on society at large. Most societies are dedicated to maintain ing harmony and to providing nonviolent solutions to human problems and social conflict. A substantial amount of knowledge has accumulated about aggression and its regulation from empirical research, theory, and clinical sources. Because of the social importance of aggression, the study of human aggression in children and youth has become a popular area for scientific research.

The relationship between affective-emotional processes and aggressive behavior has been a central topic of scientific interest in the aggression literature for decades. Emotions are not merely epiphenomena of aggression: they can be triggers, amplifiers, moderators, or even ultimate goals of aggressive behavior. Insights into the functional relation between emotions and aggression are of theoretical relevance, and above all are crucial for finding solutions for efficient control, prevention, and reduction of aggression. This book brings together leading experts from fields such as social, personality, developmental, and physiological psychology, presenting state-of-art research on this relationship. The book describes assessment and treatment approaches, as well as theoretical concepts and research findings concerning the interconnections between emotions and aggression.

Book covers a broader range of topics than other books in this area. Notably, extensive coverage of the neurobiology of anger in context of psychology and sociology is unique. Book provides broad, integrative coverage while avoiding unnecessary duplication. Contributors have read each others’ chapters and there is extensive cross-referencing from chapter to chapter. Book contains a guide to content and organization of chapters and topics, along with interpolated commentary at the end of each section.