Chapter 4 Physical Violence. Introduction Myths cloud our understanding of physical violence –E.g. African Americans are more likely to kill whites; women

Chapter 4

Physical Violence

Introduction

• Myths cloud our understanding of physical violence

– E.g. African Americans are more likely to kill whites; women kill their husbands (infidelity)

• Terrorism now accounts for much violence, especially in Israel and London

© 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Assault and Aggravated Assault

• Assault: unlawful use of physical force against another person

• Aggravated assault involves intent to kill or the use of a deadly weapon– Where the victim survives rather than dies


Assault and Aggravated Assault

• Assaulters are less likely than murderers to use firearms

• Assault rises dramatically during the summer


Who is More Likely to Kill?

• Over 90% of murderers in the U.S. are in the lower classes

• Making up 12% of the general population, blacks account for 45% of the murders

• Most killings are INTRA-racial

• Southern region has the highest rate (10 per 100,000)



• Large cities have a significantly higher murder rate than small cities/rural areas

•

• More men than women kill, and kill other men

• Women usually kill in defense of themselves in an abusive relationship




• Both male and female murderers are relatively young

– highest murder rate is aged 15-19 for males and aged 20-24 for females

• Today, the overall murder rate in the United States is lower than the mid- 1980s



• Since 1985 murders committed by teenagers are on the rise– Many inner-city teenagers carry guns:

• To protect themselves, availability of guns, dysfunctional families, drugs,

• The declining quality of public schools, and increased violence on TV and in the movie


Patterns of Killing

• Fewer murders occur during fall and spring, and more during July and August;

– They also peak during December

• Saturday night is the time of week murders most often occur.

• Higher class murders more premeditated; show no variation by time of year or week


Patterns of Killing

• Men commit murders inside and outside the house

• Women almost exclusively kill in their own homes, especially in the kitchen

• If guns were less available:

– Many heated arguments would result in aggravated assaults rather than murders


Patterns of Killing

• In America, over 10,000 handgun homicides occur each year

• In other industrialized nations such as Canada, England, and Japan:

– Guns are much harder to get; the number is less than 100


What is it about the US and Gun Violence?

© 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Characteristics of Homicide

• Of all crimes, homicide is least likely to involve strangers (less than 20%)

• In 1/4 homicides the victim first attacks his subsequent slayer – Victim-precipitated homicide

• Most homicides result from a "character contest" among lower-class



• Homicide-suicide offenders first kill another person and then themselves– Sociologists see suicide as remorse– Psychologists see suicide as psychosis

• Mass murder: killing a number of people at about the same time and place – Offenders usually die by their own hands or

the hands of the police



• Serial murder: involves killing a number of people one at a time.

– Most murder in one city, plan what they do, stalk their victims, and lure them into traps

– Often suffered abuse while children and cannot feel remorse for hurting others



Mass and Serial Murder

• Mass murder involves killing a number of people at about the same time and place

• Extraordinarily ordinary

• Disgruntled employees

• Pseudo-commandos

• Serial killers are far more elusive


The Social Profile of Serial Killers

• Most serial killers:

– Usually seem like ordinary people

– Are typically blue collar workers

– Are usually white men in their late 20s or 30s

– Are typically motivated by an intense desire for power and sadism


Global Perspective: Homicide

• Homicide rates are higher in developing countries

• Latin America has the highest homicide rate in the world – – Characteristic of “machismo culture”


Global Perspective: Homicide

• In the highly patriarchal societies such as the Middle East:

– Women are likely to fall victim to “honor killings” by their male relatives

• The U.S. has the highest homicide rate among developed countries


School Violence

• School violence is attributed, in part, to:

– The availability of guns, media violence, and a culture of violence

• Offenders are highly likely to be those rejected by parents and peers


Stalking

• Stalking:

– Act of pursuing someone that creates the fear of being assaulted or killed

• Most stalkers know their victims

• Most cases are men stalking women

• No racial differences


Hate Killing

• 9,000 Americans per year experience hate crimes

• African Americans and gays are the most likely victims

• Most hate killers are part of hate groups, which are often formed in prison


Hate Killing

• Three types of hate killers:

– thrill hate killers

– defensive hate killers

– mission hate killers


Genocide

• Genocide: whole-scale killing of a racial or ethnic group

• Perpetrators have a job of killing others under orders

• Bystanders are average citizens who usually do nothing


Genocide

• Theories of genocide:

– physical or psychological separation between perpetrators and victims

– dehumanization of victims

– obedience to authority when asked

– psychological ability to dissociate from the insanity of killing

– Power – The more power that a government has:

–The greater its ability to carry out killing on a large scale


Terrorism

• Terrorism:

– Violence intended for a government but victims are usually innocent citizens

– e.g. Timothy McVeigh, al Qaeda

• The suicide attacks of 9/11 were said to be waged against “the Great Satan”

– Or the U.S., as part of a holy war


Terrorism

• The U.S. has obtained assistance from friendly Muslin countries

– Such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan

• Following 9/11:

– Most Muslim nations express less support for terrorism than in the past


Why Do People Kill?

• Two popular theories:

– External restraint theory:

• Tries to explain how the presence or absence of restraints controls the expression of frustration

– Subculture of violence: basic cause of high homicide rates in poor neighborhoods


Does the Death Penalty Deter Murder?

• The death penalty is not very effective in deterring murder

• However, it does prevent the offender from committing further crime

• And satisfies the societal cry for retribution




Documents

Chapter 4 Physical Violence. Introduction Myths cloud our understanding of physical violence –E.g. African Americans are more likely to kill whites; women