NCJ Number
237884
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 25 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2010 Pages: 1739-1766
Date Published
October 2010
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This article examines the grounded theoretic implications of bounded rationality for retaliatory street violence.
Abstract
Drawing from in-depth interviews with 52 active street criminals, this article examines the grounded theoretic implications of bounded rationality for retaliatory street violence. The bounds on rationality that this article explores are anger, uncertainty, and time pressure. These bounds create imperfections in the retaliatory decisionmaking process that, in turn, cause asymmetries in the way that reprisal is enacted. Two asymmetries are operative in this regard: strike intensity and target choice. Anger produces asymmetries of both types. Uncertainty and time pressure produce only target-choice asymmetry. All three modalities cause retaliation to be redirected. Redirection promotes the spread of urban violence through conflict spirals. (Published Abstract)