NCJ Number
45173
Journal
American Sociological Review Volume: 43 Issue: 1 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1978) Pages: 23-35
Date Published
1978
Length
13 pages
Annotation
A DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION MODEL OF THE DIFFUSION PROCESS IN OUTBREAKS OF COLLECTIVE VIOLENCE IS DEVELOPED AND EVALUATED.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH PAST EXPLANATIONS OF VIOLENCE HAVE FOCUSED ON THE ISSUES OF SOCIAL CONDITIONS AND PSYCHOCULTURAL STIMULI, THE PRESENT STUDY IS CONCERNED WITH THE MATTER OF TIMING. BEHAVIORAL GENERALIZATIONS INDICATING THAT AGGRESSION IS BOTH INSTIGATED AND INHIBITED THROUGH DIRECT AND VICARIOUS LEARNING ARE EMPLOYED IN THE DERIVATION OF A MODEL, THE PARAMETERS OF WHICH PROVIDE MEASURES OF THE INSTIGATION AND INHIBITION PROCESSES THAT TAKE PLACE IN THE COURSE OF AN OUTBREAK. TWENTY-FIVE DATA SETS REPRESENTING A WIDE VARIETY OF COLLECTIVE OUTBREAKS OF VIOLENCE IN THE UNITED STATES, LATIN AMERICA, AFRICA, AND ENGLAND ARE USED TO TEST THE EMPIRICAL FIT OF THE MODEL AND TO EVALUATE THE CREDIBILITY OF ITS ASSUMPTIONS. THE OUTBREAKS INCLUDE THE LYNCHING OF BLACKS IN THE UNITED STATES FROM 1882 TO 1956; RELATIVELY BRIEF PERIODS OF ANTISEMITISM IN THE UNITED STATES; PERIODS OF AIR HIJACKING ATTEMPTS, REVOLUTIONS, PURGES, COUPS D'ETAT, ARSON AND RIOTS IN ENGLAND IN 1830; AND CIVIL DISORDERS IN THE UNITED STATES DURING THE 1960'S. THE MODEL DESCRIBES THE DISTRIBUTION OF INCIDENTS OVER TIME QUITE ACCURATELY. THE ASSUMPTIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF THE DERIVATION APPEAR TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE CULTURAL CONDITIONS SURROUNDING THE OUTBREAKS. MATHEMATICAL FORMULATIONS AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)