Female Aggression

Conventional wisdom states that men express their aggression through physical violence, while women do so in less direct and more nuanced ways. Female aggression is often ignored by mainstream social and medical commentators, and writings on the topic seem to view aggression by women or girls as either a pale imitation of male aggression or specific to certain situations, such as alcohol abuse or domestic violence. Yet viewing female belligerence as poorly expressed imitative behaviour minimises and trivialises women′s anger, perspectives and viewpoints. This study of female aggression makes a critical assessment of this position, and explores ideas about female aggression, its motives and outcomes. In doing so, it explodes a number of social myths about gender.   This thorough, holistic review takes theoretical positions drawn from a range of scientific perspectives as its starting point, then explores how women experience and express their aggression, including through sexual assault and murder. In doing so, aggressive female behaviour is acknowledged, in its own right, as a response to the world.

Helen Gavin is Principal Lecturer in Criminal Psychology at the University of Huddersfield, UK, where she is also Research Development Coordinator for the School of Human and Health Sciences. Previously, she was Head of Psychology at the University of the West of England, UK. Her publications include The Essence of Cognitive Psychology (1998), Understanding Research Methods & Statistics in Psychology (2008), and Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll: Psychological, Legal and Cultural Examinations of Sex and Sexuality (2010) .   Theresa Porter received her Psy.D. from Wright State University, USA. She has extensive therapeutic experience with female offenders, including members of terrorist groups and murderers. Currently in practice at Connecticut Valley Hospital, she evaluates and treats mentally ill residents with a focus on sexual offenders. She lectures and publishes on female offenders.