Lois Presser

About the Author

Lois Presser is a distinguished sociologist and author whose work delves into the intricate motivations behind human violence and societal harm. With a PhD in sociology, she has spent her career exploring the narratives that justify aggression, drawing from criminology, psychology, and cultural studies to illuminate why individuals and groups inflict suffering. Presser's research challenges conventional understandings of crime, emphasizing the role of storytelling in perpetuating harmful behaviors. As a professor at the University of Tennessee, she has influenced generations of scholars through her incisive analyses and commitment to social justice. Her book Why We Harm (Critical Issues in Crime and Society) exemplifies her ability to blend rigorous scholarship with accessible prose, offering profound insights into the roots of violence in contemporary society.