Alcohol-Facilitated Aggression

This book synthesizes interdisciplinary research on alcohol-facilitated aggression and violence. Chapters review key theories and empirical studies, etiology across multiple populations and settings, and evidence-based prevention and intervention efforts. Bringing together contributors from clinical psychology, public health, criminology, and related disciplines, the volume unites a historically siloed field so experts can better understand the relationship between alcohol use and the perpetration of interpersonal aggression and violence. It bridges the gap between research and implementation, recognizing that meaningful progress requires understanding the behaviors of those who cause harm while attending to the diverse relationships, populations, and contexts in which harm occurs. Organized into three parts, the first set of chapters establish the historical, theoretical, methodological, analytic, and epidemiological foundations of the field. Then, chapters examine etiological models across perpetrator-victim relationships, including intimate partner aggression and sexual assault in heterosexual and sexual/gender minoritized couples; the role of parental drinking role in child maltreatment and abuse; and social, cultural, and environmental factors that predispose people to drink heavily and engage in aggressive behaviors. Finally, contributors highlight prevention and intervention programs at the individual, community, and policy levels that have shown the most promise in reducing alcohol-facilitated aggression. Integrative chapters identify persistent gaps, such as the relationship between alcohol use and gun violence, and chart future directions.