POCKETS OF VIOLENCE - AN EXPLORATION OF HOMICIDE AND SUICIDE

• NCJ Number: 57220
• Journal: DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM Volume: 38 Issue: 10 Dated: (OCTOBER 1977) Pages: 833-837
• Author(s): J A HUMPHREY; H J KUPPERER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Physician Postgraduate Press
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REVISION OF 'POCKETS OF VIOLENCE AND THEIR SOCIO-CULTURAL CORRELATES' PRESENTED AT THE 34TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY FOR APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY, MARCH 19-23, 1975, AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND

Annotation

THIS ARTICLE REPORTS THAT THE SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS OF DEPRIVATION AND FAMILY INSTABILITY TEND TO RESULT IN MORE HOMICIDAL BEHAVIOR, WHILE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING WITH PERSONAL DISCORD MAKES SUICIDE MORE LIKELY.

Abstract

IN MOST SOCIETIES, HOMICIDE AND SUICIDE RATES TEND TO VARY INVERSELY. AN INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF RATES OF HOMICIDE AND SUICIDE IN NORTH CAROLINA INDICATES THE FACTORS WHICH MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VARIATION IN RATES OF VIOLENCE. WHEN SOCIAL FRUSTRATIONS ARE ENCOUNTERED, AGGRESSION IN THE FORM OF HOMICIDE OR ASSAULTIVE BEHAVIOR IS A LIKELY CONSEQUENCE. HOWEVER, IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EXTERNAL FACTOR CAUSING FRUSTRATION, AND WHEN LIFE IS APPARENTLY WELL ORDERED, THEN DISRUPTIONS TO THE INDIVIDUAL MAY RESULT IN GUILT AND SELF-BLAME, WITH SUICIDE OCCURRING AS THE INDIVIDUAL'S ATTACK ON THE PERCEIVED SOLE CAUSE OF PERSONAL PROBLEMS. DATA FOR THE STUDY OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR IN NORTH CAROLINA WERE OBTAINED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER FOR THE YEARS 1972 TO 1973, WITH SPECIFIC COUNTIES STUDIED WITH RESPECT TO THEIR VARYING RATES OF SUICIDE AND HOMICIDE, ACCORDING TO FOUR CONDITIONS: HIGH HOMICIDE AND HIGH SUICIDE, HIGH HOMICIDE AND LOW SUICIDE, LOW HOMICIDE AND HIGH SUICIDE, AND LOW HOMICIDE AND LOW SUICIDE. THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COUNTIES MANIFESTING RATES ABOVE AND BELOW THE STATE AVERAGE WERE COMPARED. THE FINDINGS SUPPORT THE CONTENTION THAT AREAS MANIFESTING HIGH RATES OF BOTH SUICIDE AND HOMICIDE EXHIBIT CHARACTERISTICS WHICH GENERATE BOTH FORMS OF VIOLENCE. HIGH-VIOLENCE COUNTIES TENDED TO HAVE A GREATER RATIO OF WHITE TO BLACK INHABITANTS AND A STABLE POPULATION. ADDITIONALLY, HIGH VIOLENCE AREAS WERE ECONOMICALLY SOUNDER THAN LOW VIOLENCE AREAS, BUT A GREATER DISPARITY EXISTED IN THE MEDIAN INCOME OF BLACK AND WHITE FAMILIES. FINDINGS ALSO SUPPORT THE HYPOTHESIS THROUGH THE OTHER CONDITIONS. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)