NCJ Number
35578
Date Published
1975
Length
17 pages
Annotation
AN APPLICATION OF THE THEORY THAT SEPCIFIC CULTURAL ELEMENTS REFLECT THE OPERATION OF THE CULTURE AS A SYSTEM WITHIN WHICH CULTURAL NORMS CONCERNING VIOLENCE CAN BE DEDUCED FROM OTHER GROUP NORMS AND VALUES.
Abstract
NORMS WERE SEPARATED INTO TWO LEVELS - BASIC FAMILY NORMS AND SPECIFIC. TWO ETHNIC GROUPS, THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN AND JEWISH WERE USED TO APPLY THIS THEORY. FOR MEXICAN-AMERICANS A HIGH LEVEL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE WAS PROPOSED, DUE ESPECIALLY TO THE NORMS OF SEVERE MALE DOMINANCE, STRICT DISCIPLINE, AND SUBMISSION TO THE FATHER. PERPETUATION OF THIS SUBCULTURE IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE DESIRE FOR BOYS TO BE LIKE THEIR FATHER EVEN THOUGH THEY FEAR HIM AND BECAUSE A CHILD TREATS HIS WIFE CHILDREN THE SAME WAY HIS FATHER TREATED HIS MOTHER AND HIM. NORMS OF THE JEWISH ETHNIC GROUP WERE ALSO PLACED INTO THIS THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK WITH THE CONCLUSION THAT THERE WOULD BE LITTLE FAMILY VIOLENCE. THE BASIC FAMILY NORMS EMPHASIZED WERE THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE USE OF THE MIND RATHER THAN THE BODY. THUS, DEBATE AND VERBAL OR PHYSICAL COERCION IS USED AND THERE IS LESS FAMILY VIOLENCE. PERPETUATION IS ACCOMPLISHED BY THE FACT THAT BOYS PERCEIVE THEMSELVES AS LIKE THEIR FATHERS. THE AUTHOR CAUTIONS THAT AN EXAMINATION OF ADDITIONAL SOURCES AND THE INCLUDING OF MORE NORMS MAY REQUIRE THAT THESE TWO DIAGRAMS BE ALTERED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)