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VIOLENCE, PERSONALITY, DETERRENCE, AND CULTURE

NCJ Number
56822
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 166-171
Author(s)
L A CURTIS
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE CULTURE OF VIOLENCE IS INTERPRETED AS A FACTOR THAT INTERVENES BETWEEN STRUCTURAL INEQUALITIES AND BEHAVIORAL OUTCOMES OF VIOLENT CRIME, AND CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO THE ROLE OF PERSONALITY AND DETERRENCE IN VIOLENT CRIME.
Abstract
HOMICIDE AND ASSAULT ARE THE TWO CRIMES MOST ASSOCIATED WITH A CULTURE OF VIOLENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. ACCORDING TO BERKOWITZ, THE NOTION OF A CULTURE OF VIOLENCE IS ONE OF SEVERAL THEORIES THAT PLACE TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON INSTRUMENTAL AGGRESSION. INSTRUMENTAL AGGRESSION INVOLVES THE SEEKING OF SOCIAL REWARDS, PARTICULARLY THE APPROVAL OF OTHER PEOPLE OR AT LEAST THE AVOIDANCE OF THEIR DISAPPROVAL. IN CONTRAST TO THIS POSTURE, RECOURSE TO VIOLENCE IS NOT VIEWED AS A CONSTANT OR INTENSE SEARCH FOR EXTERNAL APPROVAL, ALTHOUGH PEER ACCEPTANCE IS REINFORCING. RECOURSE TO VIOLENCE INSTEAD REPRESENTS A MEANS OF ADAPTING AND COPING THAT IS SHARED BY SOME INDIVIDUALS THROUGH VALUES AND BEHAVIORS. THERE IS A COMMON UNDERSTANDING OF VIOLENCE AS SELF-APPROVAL RATHER THAN A SHARED NEED FOR CONFIRMATION BY OTHERS. EMPIRICAL AND POLICY OBSERVATIONS OF THE VIOLENT CULTURE CONCEPT DO NOT INDICATE THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS INEFFECTIVE IN DETERRING CERTAIN OFFENDERS FROM COMMITTING CRIMES IN PARTICULAR SITUATIONS. IT CANNOT BE CONFIDENTLY PREDICTED THAT MORE SEVERE AND MORE CERTAIN PUNISHMENT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT VIOLENT CRIME RATES, SINCE MUCH OF THE WORK ON DETERRENCE IS BASED ON UNTESTED ASSUMPTIONS OR INVALID GENERALIZATIONS MADE FROM LIMITED STATISTICS. THE NET EFFECT OF THE DETERRENCE PHILOSOPHY AND ITS INACCURATE BEHAVIORAL ASSUMPTIONS IS TO PROVIDE A RATIONALE FOR THE CONTINUED 'VIETNAMIZATION' OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. POLICY INTERVENTION TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF VIOLENT CRIME SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON STRUCTURAL INEQUALITIES AND BEHAVIORAL OUTCOMES, AND A CHANGE IN THESE AREAS SHOULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN CULTURAL ADAPTATION. REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)

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