A Brief History of ISRA

ISRA was founded by a small group of prominent scholars who gathered at the Prince Hotel in Tokyo, Japan, in August of 1972 in conjunction with the 20th International Congress of Psychology. Present were Robert Blanchard, Katsuzo Hayashi, Kirsti Lagerspetz, Zanvel Liff, Neal Miller, Ross Parke, Karl Pribram, Saul Rosenzweig, John Paul Scott, W.H. Thorpe, Gerald Hudgens, Irving Lazar, Jeanne Mueller, and Oleg Tikhomirow (details can be found in Aggressive Behavior, Vol. 13, 1987, p. 53-57).

In the shadow of the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and social unrest throughout the United States, these researchers discussed how their knowledge, skills, and research efforts might be applied to the very real, personally devastating, and socially costly problems of individual and collective violence. It quickly became apparent that any serious study of aggression had to be international in scope and interdisciplinary in character.

The stated purpose of the Society is to encourage the discovery and exchange of scientific information about the causes and consequences of violence and to develop knowledge and techniques that might reduce harmful aggression. The Society is non-partisan and its activities are intended to promote human welfare through enhanced knowledge of the causes and control of aggressive behavior.

ISRA Officers

ISRA Presidents
Dominic Parrott (USA), 2026-2028
Wayne Warburton (Australia), 2024-2026
Tracy Vaillancourt (Canada), 2022-2024
Eric Dubow (USA), 2020-2022
Barbara Krahé (Germany), 2018-2020
Mike Potegal (USA), 2016-2018
Kaj Björkqvist (Finland), 2014-2016
John Knutson (USA), 2012-2014
Craig Anderson (USA), 2010-2012
Deborah Richardson (USA), 2008-2010
Menno Kruk (Netherlands), 2006-2008
Caroline Blanchard (USA), 2004-2006
John Archer (UK), 2002-2004
Ed Donnerstein (USA), 2000-2002
Jaap Koolhaus (Netherlands), 1998-2000
Rowell Huesmann (USA), 1996-1998
Dan Olweus (Norway), 1994-1996
Robert Blanchard (USA), 1992-1994
Adam Fraczek (Poland), 1990-1992
Leonard Eron (USA), 1988-1990
Kirsti Lagerspetz (Finland), 1986-1988
Seymour Feshbach (USA), 1984-1986
Paul Brain (UK), 1982-1984
Leonard Berkowitz (USA), 1980-1982
Pierre Karli (France), 1978-1980
David Hamburg (USA), 1976-1978
Anthony Barnett (Australia), 1974-1976
John Paul Scott (USA), 1972-1974
Saul Rosenzweig (USA), 1970-1972 [Founding President]

ISRA Executive Secretaries
Brad J. Bushman (USA), 2022-2026
Dominic Parrott (USA), 2014-2022
Mike Potegal (USA), 2010-2014
John Knutson (USA), 2007-2010
Deborah Richardson (USA), 2003-2007
Gordon Russell (Canada), 1998-2003
Ed Donnerstein (USA), 1994-1998
L. Rowell Huesmann (USA), 1985-1994
Bob Blanchard (USA), 1978-1984
Ross Parke (USA), 1972-1978

ISRA Treasurers
Meagan Docherty (USA), 2024-2028
Jamie Ostrov (USA), 2020-2024
Sarah Coyne (USA), 2014-2020
Eric Dubow (USA), 2009-2014
Jackie White (USA), 2005-2008
John Knutson (USA), 1994-2004
Ron Slaby (USA), 1993-1994
Gordon Russell (Canada), 1988-1992

ISRA Archivists
Tom Denson (Australia), 2020-2028
Kaj Borkqvist (Finland), 2016-2020
Roger Johnson (USA), 2009-2016
Paul Brain (UK), 2004-2009
Ron Baenninger (USA), 1988-2004
Saul Rosenzweig (USA), served until 1988

ISRA Bulletin Editors
Friederike Funk (Germany), 2024-present
Meagan Docherty (USA), 2023-2024
Irene Vitoroulis (Canada), 2022-present
Kevin M. Swartout (USA), 2022
Katja Bertsch (Germany), 2018-2022
Jamie Ostrov (USA), 2018-2022
Manuela Martinez (Spain), 2013-2018
Ingrid Moller (Germany), 2010-2013
Eric Dubow (USA), 2004-2018
Jane Ireland (UK), 2001-2010
Kaj Bjorkqvist (Finland), 1990-2001
Roger Johnson (USA), 1986-2004
John Rogers (UK), 1986-1990
Caroline Blanchard (USA), served until 1986 [Founding Editor]

ISRA Webmasters
Tracy Vaillancourt (Canada), 2022-present
Dominic Parrott (USA), 2016-2022
Craig Anderson (USA), 2013-2016
Yvon Delville (USA), 2007-2013
Roger Johnson (USA), 2001-2006

Aggressive Behavior Editors
Jane L. Ireland (UK), 2024-present
Craig A. Anderson (USA), 2019-2023
John Archer (UK), 2013-2018
L. Rowell Huesmann (USA), 2004-2012
Ron Baenninger (USA), 1979-2003
Kenneth Moyer (USA), 1974-1979 [Founding Editor]