Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This course is designed to give a broad overview of violence and aggression in American society. Students will examine the nature vs. nurture debate over the roots of violent tendencies. Students will examine the divergence of opinions of authors of books like David Courtwright’s Violent Land to the teachings of The Dalai Lama. Students will also explore the economic and social costs associated with inter-familial violence ranging from child, partner, and elder abuse situations. They will benefit from hearing first hand accounts from criminal justice professionals who confront the issues of violence and aggression in their jobs on a daily basis.

This course is a requirement for completing a degree in Criminal Justice at Portland Community College. Course work may include, but is not limited to, the use of selected readings from texts, articles, and professional journals. Students will hear from guest speakers and will watch appropriate videos on violence and aggression. Students will interview criminal justice professionals and report to the class on the outcomes of their interviews.

Students will thoroughly analyze, debate and be able to differentiate between the nature versus nurture debate as it relates to violence and aggression.

2. Students will be able to utilize the lessons they have learned in the course in practical ways that allows themselves and others to either avoid or reduce the risks associated with violence in both their personal and professional lives.

3. Students will evaluate contemporary trends in the media relating to violence and aggression.

4. Students will assess and evaluate fact situations and be able to develop and list strategies to reduce the likelihood of violence occurring.

5. Students analyze trends in American society that either promote or discourage violence and aggression.

This course will address topics including but not limited to:

• Nature versus nurture debate of violence and aggression
• Issues surrounding inter-familial violence in America
• Violence in other cultures
• Violence and aggression from a biological perspective
• The medias role in violence
• Strategies to prevent individuals from becoming victims of violence
• An examination of group or "mob mentality" violence and aggression