Data concerning violence in the United States have consistently indicated that violence is more prevalent among males, younger persons, and people of lower socioeconomic backgrounds. However, the relationship between socioeconomic status and violence has been unclear due to a lack of appropriate data and model specification. The author begins by reviewing the social interactionist perspective, which offers a general framework for understanding motivations for aggression and violence. Next, theoretical and empirical research within the criminological literature is discussed, with a focus on the roles of attitudes and neighborhood-level data as explanations for the link between economic disadvantage and violence. The literature concerning attitudes suggests that the motivations for the use of coercion and violence may be more powerful among economically disadvantaged persons. Neighborhood-level explanations focus on the role of social disorganization and economic strain as mechanisms that weaken familial and societal bonds and create an environment in which violence becomes acceptable. In conclusion, the author maintains that the two complimentary perspectives of cultural and social disorganization help shed light on the relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage and violence. Further research into neighborhood-level variables may offer powerful explanations about the co-occurrence of poverty and violence. References