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Swedish Violent Crime Situation

NCJ Number
95820
Author(s)
J Anderson; J Gustavsson; J Knutsson; E Kuhlhorn; O Olsson; M Reiniusson
Date Published
1984
Length
266 pages
Annotation
Research begun in 1975 investigates the apparent increase of violent crime in Sweden beginning in the 1970's. Special emphasis is on the link between alcohol and violence.
Abstract
Three theories are discussed in relation to data collected from official sources on the incidence of violence in the country. These include Bandura's theory that we learn violence through models which teach us both techniques for committing violence and motives. Another, the frustration-aggression theory, concentrates on offenders and their reactions to frustrating situations as an impetus to violence. The final theory, an outgrowth of subculture theory, posits that violence is a communications mechanism used within and between subculture groups. Overall, the report covers these topics: (1) violent crimes -- their structure, frequency, incidence, and trends; (2) violence in terms of the above theories; (3) case studies of family violence, violence among friends or acquaintances, and stranger-to-stranger violence; and (4) legal reactions to violence. Violence related to robbery and violence against particular occupational groups (e.g., police and retail employees) is given special attention. Data analyzed for the study included all cases of robbery reported to the police in 1970, 1974, and 1979, as well as data on 967 persons prosecuted in 1975, of whom 321 were prosecuted on charges of murder, homicide, or grave assault.

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