Module Directory

This module draws on psychosocial and psychodynamic thinking to investigate the question of violence in its various manifestations. We will be exploring both clinical problems such as aggression and 'anti-social behaviour' and socio-political issues such as racism, ageism, and sexism. Students will be challenged to consider different ways to understand the term 'violence' (such as structural violence versus individual acts of violence) and the implications of this for ethics and professional practice. Through discussion-based seminars and interdisciplinary readings on a wide range of topics related to the theme of violence, students will be encouraged to draw on theoretical and practice-based knowledge, and their own experience, to think through appropriate responses to violence as it manifests within individuals, groups, organisations and society.

The aims of this module are:

• To critically interrogate the meaning of ‘violence’ in its various psychosocial dimensions


• To widen one’s understanding of what might be considered ‘violent’


• To explore possible causes for acts of physical and psychological violence


• To investigate how psychodynamic concepts and therapeutic techniques can be used both to understand and to ‘treat’ or prevent violence

By the end of the module students should be able:

1. To identify the psychosocial dimensions of both violent behaviour and societal violence


2. To intelligently discuss and debate different ways that violence can be understood


3. To apply psychodynamic and therapeutic thinking to understand causes of violence and constructive ways for it to be addressed


4. To understand how therapeutic practitioners understand and work with violent behaviour


5. To critically interrogate the relationship between early life experiences and manifestations of violence


6. To develop an ethical and professional stance in relation to the problem of violence


7. To look more deeply at one’s own personal, professional and political beliefs

Key Skills

1. Capacity to develop argument and critical thought


2. Enhanced verbal and written communication


3. Application of psychodynamic ideas to social situations


4. Capacity to make critical and ethical judgements on what ‘counts’ as violence and what should be done about it

Employability Skills

1. Greater self-awareness


2. A more reflective approach to practice


3. Ability to identify hidden forms of discrimination and to better advocate for equality, diversity, and inclusion


4. Capacity to intelligently plan therapeutic interventions that prevent or reduce violence