NCJ Number
76436
Date Published
1981
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The study explores the correlates of crime in general, the correlates of theft, and the correlates of personal crime in 48 mostly preliterate societies throughout the world.
Abstract
The method of comparative ratings was used to obtain measures of frequency for each of the two crime types (theft and crimes against persons). Three raters independently analyzed the ethnographic material of each society and made ratings on a seven-point scale as to the relative frequency of the type of crime. The results indicate that men commit most crimes -- a sex difference which probably characterizes most societies. The initial hypothesis that crime arises partly as a defense against strong feminine identification is corroborated by the fact that as the opportunity for contact with the father decreases in society, the frequency of both theft and personal crime is found to increase. The findings on child training in relation to theft support the hypothesis that theft is in part motivated by feelings of deprivation of love and punitive, anxiety provoking treatment during childhood. Frequency of personal crime shows a significant positive correlation with dependence socialization anxiety, the amount of anxiety aroused by the methods of child independence training employed in a particular society. High frequency of personal crime among adults correlated significantly with a mother-child household which offers inadequate opportunity in early life for identification with the father; a mother-child sleeping arrangement which encourages a strong dependence between mother and child; and abrupt, punitive independence training producing emotional disturbances in the child. This cross-cultural approach confirms some hypotheses of crime correlates in Western society, while disagreeing with others. Tabular data are provided.