Machine derived contents note: Preface. I: The Framework of the Handbook. 1. Violence: The Difficulties of a Systematic International Review; W. Heitmeyer, J. Hagan. 2. The Concept of Violence; P. Imbusch. 3. The Long-term Development of Violence: Empirical Findings and Theoretical Approach to Interpretation; M. Eisner. II: Research on Violence: An Interdisciplinary Approach with a Focus on Social Sciences. 1. Societal Structures and Institutions: Social Conditions and State Agents. 1.1. Social Structures and Inequalities; R.D. Crutchfield, T. Wadsworth, J.F. Short Jr., C. Hagemann-White. 1.2. Violence in and by State Institutions; M. Hanagan, P. Longerich, G. Kümmel, P. Klein, R.D. Crelinsten, J.-P. Brodeur. 2. Groups and Collectivities: Political and Ideological Violence. 2.1. Ethnopolitical Conflict and Separatist Violence; T. Gurr, A. Pitsch. 2.2. Ethnic Violence; A. Wimmer, C. Schetter. 2.3. The Socio-Anthropological Interpretation of Violence; G. Elwert. 2.4. Civil Wars; P. Waldmann. 2.5. Terrorism; F. Reinares. 2.6. Violence from Religious Groups; J. Pahl. 2.7. Vigilantism; D. Kowalewski. 2.8. Pogroms; W. Bergmann. 2.9. Violence and New Social Movements; D. Ruscht. 2.10. Violence and the New Left; D. della Porta. 2.11. Right-Wing Extremist Violence; W. Heitmeyer. 2.12. Large-Scale Violence as Contentious Politics; C. Tilly. 3. Violent Individuals: Perpetrators and Motives. 3.1. Processes of Learning and Socialization; J.T. Tedeschi, R.F. Baumeister, B.J. Bushman, E.V.E. Hodges, N.A. Card, J. Isaacs, H. Lukesch, H. Foster, J. Hagan. 3.2. Evolutionary and Social Biological Approaches; M. Daly, M. Wilson, L. Baker, G. Albrecht, A. Blumstein, D. Hobbs, S. Messner. 4. Victims of Violence: Individuals and Groups. 4.1. Violence against Children; J. Gabarino, C.P. Bradshaw. 4.2. Violence in Intimate Relationships; P. Russell, R. Dobash, R.E. Dobash. 4.3. Suicide; D. Lester. 4.4. Violence against the Socially Expendable; E.A. Fattah. 4.5. Violence against Ethnic and Religious Minorities; T. Bjørgo. 4.6. Hate Crimes Directed at Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Victims; J. McDevitt, J. Williamson. 4.7. Trauma and Violence in Children and Adolescents: A Developmental Perspective; B.A. van der Kolk, A. Streeck-Fischer. 5. Social Opportunity Structures: Institutions and Social Spaces. 5.1. Violence in Social Institutions; R.J. Gelles, G. Klewin, K.J. Tillmann, G. Weingart, V. di Martino, E. Dunning. 5.2. Violence in the Public Space; R. Kolbel, F. Dubet. 6. Violence Discourses: Ideologies and Justifications. 6.1. Discourses and Ideologies; T. Meyer, H. Munkler, M. Llanque, K. Burgess-Jackson, V. Krech, J. Nieraad. 6.2. Justification Strategies; D. Grimm, A. Funk, O. Backes, P. Reichenbach, H. Bielefeldt, S. Lamnek. 7. Processes and Dynamics: Escalation and De-Escalation. 7.1. Fear of Violent Crime; K. Boers. 7.2. Public Opinion and Violence; H.M. Kepplinger. 7.3. Groups, Gangs and Violence; W. Kuhnel. 7.4. Escalation and De-Escalation of Social Conflicts: The Road to Violence; R. Eckert, H. Willems. III: Theoretical and Methodological Issues in Research on Violence. 1. Potentials and Limits of Qualitative Methods for Research on Violence; A. Bottger, R. Strobl. 2. Strategies and Problems in Quantitative Research on Aggression and Violence; R. Dollase, M. Ulbrich-Herrmann. IV: Index (Topics). V: Index (Persons). V: The Authors.