We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.

Understanding Violence

Deb Houry, MD, MPH and Pamela Scully, Ph.D.

We are so pleased to have you join us as we investigate this crucial topic.

Violence is a leading cause of death, disability and health care use worldwide. Violence is a complex problem and can only be understood and reduced though a multidisciplinary approach.

This course introduces you to experts who study different forms of violence and we will discuss the various causes of violence. You will also learn about efforts to reduce violence and engage in a day of compassion.

We are so pleased to have you join us as we investigate this crucial topic.

Violence is a leading cause of death, disability and health care use worldwide. Violence is a complex problem and can only be understood and reduced though a multidisciplinary approach.

We are very fortunate that PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER is participating in our course. He delivers a lecture on the efforts of the Carter Center to end violence around the world, and he engages in a discussion with us about his life and work in human rights.

Do join us for short videos, readings and discussions. And also see our coffee chats, where we (Pamela and Deb) summarize and reflect on each module.

And we want to hear from you! Feel free to reach out via Twitter or through the course, or through our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/understandingviolence01/.

Enroll now

Or subscribe to Coursera Plus

And get unlimited access to Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Overview of Violence

We begin the course by defining violence and discussing why violence can be difficult to identify and measure. We will review the rates of violence in the U.S. and globally.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Examines violence as a health concern, taking a public health approach to understanding its causes and consequences

Studies how differing types of violence are interconnected and how they affect individuals, communities, and society

Taught by renowned experts in the field of violence prevention and public health

Offers insights from former US President Jimmy Carter on his efforts to end violence around the world

Provides opportunities for discussions and engagement with experts and peers through coffee chats and online forums

Requires students to come in with a basic understanding of public health principles

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.

Save

Reviews summary

Exploring violence through multidisciplinary lenses

According to learners, this course offers a valuable and comprehensive overview of violence, exploring its various forms and causes from a multidisciplinary perspective. Many students found the inclusion of expert perspectives and guest speakers, particularly the session featuring President Jimmy Carter, to be a significant highlight and a powerful addition. Reviewers appreciated the course structure, which breaks down a complex topic into manageable modules with helpful readings and videos. While the subject matter is inherently difficult and can be emotionally challenging, students generally felt the course handled it with sensitivity. Some learners wished for more in-depth exploration of specific topics or practical prevention strategies.

Covers many topics, sometimes lacking detail.

"The course covers a vast amount of ground, which is great for an overview, but I wished some sections went deeper."

"While the breadth is impressive, some forms of violence were covered a bit too briefly for my liking."

"It's a good introduction to many facets of violence, but might not satisfy those looking for expert-level depth in one area."

Broad view covering social, psychological, and more.

"I really appreciated how the course covered violence from so many different angles – biological, social, psychological."

"Understanding violence requires looking at it through multiple lenses, and this course does an excellent job of that."

"The multidisciplinary approach helped me see the complexity of the issue in a new light."

Insights from experts, especially President Carter.

"The lecture by President Jimmy Carter was incredibly moving and insightful, a true highlight of the course."

"Hearing directly from experts in various fields added so much credibility and depth to the material."

"President Carter's participation made this course unique and offered a perspective you wouldn't find elsewhere."

Topic can be emotionally difficult for learners.

"Be prepared, the content can be quite heavy and emotionally taxing at times given the subject."

"Understanding violence is important, but engaging with the material requires emotional resilience."

"I found some of the topics really difficult to process because of how sensitive they are."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Understanding Violence with these activities:

Explore the different types of violence

Show steps

Provides step-by-step guidance and practical examples to deepen understanding of the different types of violence

Show steps

Watch the video lectures and tutorials on the different types of violence
Take notes on the key characteristics, causes, and consequences of each type of violence

Lead a discussion group on violence prevention

Show steps

Develops communication and facilitation skills while sharing knowledge and perspectives on violence prevention

Browse courses on Violence Prevention

Show steps

Prepare discussion topics and materials related to violence prevention
Invite peers or colleagues to participate in the discussion group
Facilitate the discussion, encourage active participation, and guide the group towards meaningful insights

Analyze case studies of violence

Show steps

Strengthens analytical skills by applying course concepts to real-world scenarios of violence

Browse courses on Violence Prevention

Show steps

Read the assigned case studies of violence
Identify the different types of violence present in each case study
Analyze the causes and consequences of violence in each case study

Three other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all six activities

Participate in a violence prevention organization

Show steps

Provides practical experience in violence prevention and builds a network of professionals in the field

Browse courses on Violence Prevention

Show steps

Research violence prevention organizations in the local community
Contact organizations and inquire about volunteer opportunities
Attend volunteer training and orientation
Participate in violence prevention activities, such as community outreach, education, or support groups

Participate in a violence prevention hackathon or competition

Show steps

Encourages innovation and collaboration in developing solutions to violence prevention challenges

Browse courses on Violence Prevention

Show steps

Research violence prevention hackathons or competitions
Form a team or join an existing team
Develop a solution or prototype that addresses a specific violence prevention challenge
Present the solution to a panel of judges or the public

Develop a public health campaign on violence prevention

Show steps

Enhances understanding of violence prevention strategies and promotes public awareness

Browse courses on Violence Prevention

Show steps

Research effective public health campaigns on violence prevention
Develop a target audience and key message for the campaign
Create a persuasive message and design campaign materials
Evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign

Career center

Learners who complete Understanding Violence will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Criminologist

Criminologists study the causes and consequences of crime and criminal behavior. This course may be helpful for Criminologists as it provides an understanding of the causes and consequences of violence, which is a major area of criminological research. The course also covers strategies for preventing and reducing violence, which can be valuable in developing crime prevention and control policies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Criminologist

Public Health Educator

Public Health Educators promote health and prevent disease in communities. This course may be helpful for Public Health Educators as it provides an understanding of the causes and consequences of violence, which can be valuable in developing and implementing public health programs to prevent violence. The course also covers strategies for preventing and reducing violence, which can be useful in advocating for policies and programs to address the root causes of violence.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Health Educator

Forensic Psychologist

Forensic Psychologists apply psychological principles to legal issues. This course may be helpful for Forensic Psychologists as it provides an understanding of the causes and consequences of violence, which is a major area of forensic psychological research. The course also covers strategies for preventing and reducing violence, which can be valuable in developing interventions and support plans for individuals who are at risk of committing violence.

See salaries and explore the career path for Forensic Psychologist

Researcher

Researchers conduct research to understand the causes and consequences of social problems. This course may be helpful for Researchers as it provides an understanding of the causes and consequences of violence, which can be valuable in designing and conducting research on violence. The course also covers strategies for preventing and reducing violence, which can be useful in developing research-based interventions and programs to address violence.

See salaries and explore the career path for Researcher

Probation Officer

Probation Officers supervise and provide support to individuals who have been convicted of crimes. This course may be helpful for Probation Officers as it provides an understanding of the causes and consequences of violence, which can be valuable in working with individuals who have committed or are at risk of committing violence. The course also covers strategies for preventing and reducing violence, which can be useful in developing interventions and support plans for probationers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Probation Officer

Youth Counselor

Youth Counselors provide support and guidance to youth who are facing challenges. This course may be helpful for Youth Counselors as it provides an understanding of the causes and consequences of violence, which can be valuable in working with youth who are at risk of experiencing or committing violence. The course also covers strategies for preventing and reducing violence, which can be useful in developing interventions and support plans for youth.

See salaries and explore the career path for Youth Counselor

Investigator

Investigators gather information and evidence to solve crimes. This course may be helpful for Investigators as it provides an understanding of the causes and consequences of violence, which can be valuable in understanding the motivations of criminals and developing strategies for preventing and solving crimes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investigator

Law Enforcement Officer

Law Enforcement Officers enforce laws and protect the public. This course may be helpful for Law Enforcement Officers as it provides an understanding of the causes and consequences of violence, which can be valuable in preventing and responding to violence. The course also covers strategies for preventing and reducing violence, which can be useful in developing community policing and crime prevention programs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Law Enforcement Officer

Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts research and analyze public policies. This course may be helpful for Policy Analysts as it provides an understanding of the causes and consequences of violence, which can be valuable in developing and evaluating policies to prevent and reduce violence. The course also covers strategies for preventing and reducing violence, which can be useful in implementing and evaluating violence prevention programs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Policy Analyst

Social Worker

Social Workers provide support and services to individuals and families who are facing challenges. This course may be helpful for Social Workers as it provides an understanding of the causes and consequences of violence, which can be valuable in working with clients who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing violence. The course also covers strategies for preventing and reducing violence, which can be useful in developing interventions and support plans for clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Victim Advocate

Victim Advocates provide support and assistance to victims of crime. This course may be helpful for Victim Advocates as it provides an understanding of the causes and consequences of violence, which can be valuable in working with victims of violence. The course also covers strategies for preventing and reducing violence, which can be useful in developing and implementing victim support programs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Victim Advocate

Caseworker

A Caseworker provides assistance to individuals and families who are facing various challenges and need support. This course may be helpful for Caseworkers as it provides an understanding of the causes and consequences of violence, which can be valuable in working with clients who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing violence. The course also covers strategies for preventing and reducing violence, which can be useful in developing interventions and support plans for clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Caseworker

Counselor

Counselors provide support and guidance to individuals and families who are experiencing emotional or psychological distress. This course may be helpful for Counselors as it provides an understanding of the causes and consequences of violence, which can be valuable in working with clients who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing violence. The course also covers strategies for preventing and reducing violence, which can be useful in developing interventions and support plans for clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Counselor

Teacher

Teachers educate students in a variety of subjects. This course may be helpful for Teachers as it provides an understanding of the causes and consequences of violence, which can be valuable in creating a safe and supportive learning environment for students. The course also covers strategies for preventing and reducing violence, which can be useful in developing school-based violence prevention programs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Paralegal

Paralegals assist lawyers with legal research and other tasks. This course may be helpful for Paralegals as it provides an understanding of the causes and consequences of violence, which can be valuable in working on cases involving violence. The course also covers strategies for preventing and reducing violence, which can be useful in developing legal strategies and advocating for victims of violence.

See salaries and explore the career path for Paralegal

Reading list

We've selected 15 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Understanding Violence.

Yearbook of the United Nations, Volume 49 (1995)

Save

This report presents a comprehensive framework for understanding and addressing violent extremism, offering practical guidance for policymakers and practitioners.

Understanding Violence

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Exploring violence through multidisciplinary lenses

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses