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The Resident-intruder Paradigm: A Standardized Test for Aggression, Violence and Social Stress
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Preventing Gun Violence: The Role of Social Work
Neil B Guterman1, Patricia Logan-Greene2
1Neil B. Guterman, PhD, MSW, is Paulette Goddard professor and dean emeritus, Silver School of Social Work, New York University, 1 Washington Square North, New York, NY 10003, USA.
Social Work
|February 7, 2026
Summary
Gun violence is a major US problem, with high gun ownership. Social workers can help reduce gun violence, save lives, and improve well-being.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Social Work
- Criminology
Background:
- The US faces high rates of gun violence and gun ownership.
- Widespread gun availability poses lethal risks, making gun violence a national crisis.
- Social workers operate in environments with high risk of gun violence exposure for clients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To overview the gun violence problem and legal context in the US.
- To highlight emerging knowledge on social work interventions for gun violence prevention.
- To emphasize the role of social work in reducing gun violence and its impacts.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on gun violence in the US.
- Analysis of the legal backdrop of gun violence.
- Synthesis of emerging research on social work roles in prevention.
Main Results:
- Gun violence is a complex issue linked to availability and accessibility of firearms.
- Social work values and practice settings present unique opportunities for intervention.
- Emerging knowledge suggests social workers can assess and intervene to prevent gun violence.
Conclusions:
- Social workers have a responsibility and opportunity to address gun violence.
- Interventions can save lives, promote well-being, and advance social equity.
- Strengthening communities requires active engagement from social work in gun violence prevention efforts.
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