In considering the different states in which individual acts of human violence take place, this thorough analysis reveals the opposing state of violence to be creativity. Volume 2 explores violent states of mind, behavioural or subjective, interpersonal violence and the fine distinctions between violent and creative states of mind.
Part I: Introductorily and Theoretically. 1. The Microcosm of Aggression: Early Parent-Child Interaction and the Struggle for Separation, Reinmar Du Bois. 2. Bad to the Bone or Breaking Bad?: A Developmental View of Violent States of Mind, Maggie McAlister. 3. The Pathological Third, Violence and Reality: Psychological Pathways to Violence in Psychosis and Narcissism, Clinton Van Der Walt. Part II: Violent States of Mind. 4. Is There a Murderer Here? : The Language of Agency and Violence in Homicide Perpetrators, Gwen Adshead, Zoe Berko, Sarita Bose, Martha Ferrito and Martina Mindang. 5. Forever Hungry for Her Eyes: The Pain of Maternal Absence, Anna Motz. 6. Violent States in Feeding Distress: The Antigone Paradigm and the Creative Possibilities of Collective Re-Imagining, John Adlam. 7. Anorexia Mirabilis: Voluntary Self Starvation and the Role of Spirituality as a Legitimate Response to Sexual Violence, Robyn Timoclea. 8. Violence, Rage and Creativity, Deborah J. Cohan. Part III: Terror in the Private Sphere. 9. Breaking into a Sacred, Bloodier Speech: The Healing Role of Monsters in Child Development, Trauma Play, and the Cultural Imagination, Claude Barbre and Jill Barbre. 10. 'You be the murderer now', Tamsin Cottis. 11. Into the Labyrinth: Working with Bizarre, Unspeakable and Extreme Violence, Sarita Bose, Martha Ferrito, Alex Maguire, Martina Mindang and Andrew Ware. 12. Treat Me Nice: Music Therapy and Extreme Violence, Alex Maguire. Part IV: Creative Approaches - From the Global to the Individual. 13. Restorative Justice Applications in Mental Health Settings: Pathways to Recovery and Restitution, Gerard Drennan. 14. Violent Acts and Creative Responses: Resilience Building Through Art Psychotherapy, Kate Rothwell and Simon Hackett. 15. Spiritual Movements as Creative Forms of Response to Structural Violence, James S. Vrettos. 16. Violent states and existential-therapeutic work in Mexican ex voto painting, Wayne Martin. Epilogue, James Gilligan.
Violence is vital for human survival - protective as well as destructive. But violence begets violence, the cycle only being defeated by love's power, as Martin Luther King Jr. reminded. The editors have selected contributors who have axes to grind, in protecting matters close to their hearts. Contributions model creative, non-violent, responses to violent attacks, via channelling their authors' violent impulses into rational arguments and urgings. Do not skim-read this book. Dip in; pick out; read; muse; rest; and repeat.
