Dr. Janet Shibley Hyde is Professor Emerit of Psychology and Gender & Women's Studies at the University of Wisconsin--Madison. She has studied human development and socialization in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood as a developmental psychologist. Hyde is the winner of the Association for Psychological Science's prestigious James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award for lifetime achievements in research addressing a critical problem in society. An invited participant in Congressional briefings, Dr. Hyde has been interviewed on The Today Show, Good Morning America, National Public Radio, ABC Nightly News, CBS Evening News, CBC (Canada), and BBC Radio: Science in Action. She is the author of two highly successful undergraduate textbooks, The Psychology of Women and Gender and Understanding Human Sexuality.

"Janet Shibley Hyde is one of the greatest psychologists of her generation. In The Psychology of Gun Violence she provides a scintillating analysis of one of the most pressing issues our times. Urgent, lucid and science-based, this book should be required reading for anyone who is motivated to eradicate gun violence from society."

"This is the book I have been waiting for. Hyde addresses the gendered nature and roots of the gun violence scourge in America and offers practical solutions that blend psychology with public health policy. The Psychology of Gun Violence is a must-read for every citizen who is concerned about what our nation is turning into."

"This is an outstanding contribution to the gun debate. Writing with grace, elegance, and the unique authority of a psychologist, Hyde brings hope and light to America's enduring problem of gun violence. It is rare that a book can speak to both sides of such an impassioned question. The Psychology of Gun Violence is the best I have seen."

"This timely work examines critical questions, such as why the vast majority of mass shooters are male, how race and racism influence shootings, and the validity of common pro-gun slogans. By applying scientific evidence and cogent analysis, Hyde challenges readers to reconsider their understanding of gun violence and its cultural context. The Psychology of Gun Violence not only illuminates the psychological underpinnings of the issue but also offers science-based strategies for reducing gun violence and improving public health. Hyde's expertise, honed through years of studying human development and socialization, provides a fresh perspective on this urgent societal problem. As gun violence continues to claim thousands of lives annually in the United States, this arrives at a critical juncture, offering a path forward rooted in psychological research and understanding. For anyone seeking to comprehend and address the gun violence epidemic, Dr. Hyde's work promises to be an invaluable resource in fostering informed dialogue and effective action."

"Using her expertise in psychology and with riveting examples of history, Dr. Hyde describes the development of the U.S. public health epidemic of firearm violence over the last several decades. She includes the important, but uncommonly described psychology of religious beliefs and firearms. Importantly, she is also able to highlight areas of 'Good News' for effective interventions for firearm violence to chart a possible path forward to re-thinking about firearm violence in the U.S. with the right to freedom from gun violence."

Publisher: Prometheus Books

Pub date: 2025-07-15

Length: 248 pages