This highly respected title comes revised and updated in a second edition to provide you with a contemporary overview of violence and society. Clearly and lucidly written, this book offers broad coverage of theoretical debates, using case studies from the author's own extensive research to bring the various theories alive. With a sociological approach throughout, it provides up-to-date coverage of key topics including gender and violence, collective violence and media and violence. New to this edition: Three new chapters on 'Collective Violence', 'Violence and the Visual' and 'Theories of Violence' Material on sex offending and the night-time economy Learning features in each chapter and an 'at-a-glance' overview within the introduction