FAMILY VIOLENCE AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR (FROM VIOLENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY, 1978, BY ROBERT L SADOFF - SEE NCJ-53974)

• NCJ Number: 53978
• Author(s): M E WOLFGANG
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: American Personnel and Guidance Assoc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE NATURE OF CRIMINAL VIOLENCE AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS IS DISCUSSED, WITH REFERENCE TO THE SUBCULTURE OF VIOLENCE THEORY AND TO THE POSSIBILITY THAT BETTER FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION MIGHT REDUCE INTRAFAMILY HOMICIDES.

Abstract

SOCIETY'S LEGITIMIZATION OF VIOLENCE IN ITS CHILD-REARING PRACTICES AND IN WAR IS DISCUSSED AS ONE CULTURAL ASPECT THAT CONTRIBUTES TO A GENERAL AURA OF VIOLENCE. IT IS NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT WHILE VIOLENCE IN THE FAMILY IS PARTLY A REFLECTION OF VIOLENCE IN THE CULTURE GENERALLY, SERIOUS CRIMES WITHIN THE FAMILY ARE MOST COMMONLY RELATED TO SUBCULTURAL VALUES THAT DO NOT INHIBIT PHYSICAL RESPONSES OR THAT ACTUALLY CONDONE AND ENCOURAGE SUCH RESPONSES. THE EXTENT AND CHARACTER OF FAMILY CRIMINAL VIOLENCE ARE DISCUSSED, WITH REFERENCE TO A PHILADELPHIA (PA.) STUDY OF HUSBAND-WIFE HOMICIDES AND TO A 17-CITY SURVEY OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS INVOLVING FAMILY MEMBERS. SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSITION OF A SUBCULTURE OF VIOLENCE, WITHIN WHICH PHYSICALLY ASSAULTIVE BEHAVIOR IS NOT UNCOMMON, IS FOUND IN EVIDENCE THAT HOMICIDE WITHIN THE FAMILY AND PHYSICALLY ASSAULTIVE BEHAVIOR IN GENERAL ARE MORE COMMON IN LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC GROUPS. EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE OF A LINK BETWEEN DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE CALLS AND SUBSEQUENT HOMICIDES AND ASSAULTS IN KANSAS CITY, MO., IS CITED IN SUPPORT OF THE HYPOTHESIS THAT FAMILY HOMICIDES MIGHT BE REDUCED IF POLICE DIRECTED MORE ATTENTION TO THE HANDLING OF DOMESTIC EMERGENCY CALLS. IT IS NOTED THAT ACTIVITIES CAN BE PROMOTED IN THE HOME AND SCHOOL TO SOCIALIZE CHILDREN, EVEN THOSE FROM A SUBCULTURE OF VIOLENCE, INTO NONVIOLENCE AND TO DESENSITIZE THEM TO LINGUISTIC AND BEHAVIORAL CUES THAT EVOKE VIOLENCE. NONVIOLENT CONFORMITY TO SOCIAL RULES OF CONDUCT IS MOST LIKELY TO RESULT FROM PLEASURABLE REWARDS AND LUCID, CERTAIN, BUT NOT SEVERE SANCTIONS. PEOPLE WILL BE LESS LIKELY TO RESORT TO VIOLENCE GIVEN AFFECTION, RECOGNITION, AND REWARD FOR BEING ALIVE AND UNHARMING TO OTHERS, FREEDOM FROM EXCESSIVE RESTRAINT, PLEASURE FOR THE BODY, AND A REPERTOIRE OF VERBAL RESPONSES TO STIMULI IN SOCIAL INTERACTIONS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)