NCJ Number
61433
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 3 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1979) Pages: 43-49
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF VIOLENCE WITHIN BLACK, CHICANO, AND AMERICAN INDIAN SUBCULTURES ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
BLACKS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED IN ACTS OF VIOLENCE, BOTH AS OFFENDERS AND VICTIMS. NATIONWIDE STATISTICS FOR 1977 SHOW THAT BLACKS ACCOUNTED FOR 52 PERCENT OF ALL THE RECORDED MAJOR VIOLENT OFFENSES (MURDER, RAPE, ROBBERY, AND ASSAULT). THE CHICANO (MEXICAN-AMERICAN) SELF-IMAGE IS DERIVED FROM A CULTURALLY-BOUND BEHAVIORAL MODEL BASED ON A MACHISMO/FATALISM RELATIONSHIP WHICH OFTEN RESULTS IN OVERLY AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR, MUCH OF IT IN VIOLATION OF THE DOMINANT CULTURAL CRIMINAL AND BEHAVIORAL NORMS. ALCOHOL AND VIOLENCE REPRESENT THE CONTEMPORARY LIFESTYLE OF THE MARGINAL NATIVE AMERICAN. STATISTICS FROM 1972 SHOW THAT NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE THE HIGHEST ALCOHOL-RELATED CRIME RATE OF ANY RACIAL GROUP IN THE UNITED STATES. STRUCTURAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO SUBCULTURAL VIOLENCE INCLUDE (1) ITS PREVALENCE AS A SOCIAL CONTROL MECHANISM AND MEANS FOR OBTAINING OBJECTIVES IN THE ABSENCE OF A TRADITION OF NONVIOLENT BEHAVIORAL CONTROL AND GOAL ATTAINMENT AND (2) LOW SELF-IMAGES STIMULATING AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR DUE TO UNSTABLE AND ILL-DEFINED MEASURES OF WORTH IN AN ACCEPTING CULTURE. OVERALL, THESE MINORITY CULTURES HAVE POORLY DEFINED BEHAVIORAL NORMS FOR DEALING WITH VARIOUS LIFE SITUATIONS, LEAVING THE WAY OPEN FOR ACTIVATION OF THE LEAST SOPHISTICATED AND COMPLEX APPROACH TO PROBLEMSOLVING--VIOLENCE. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)