Craig Rivera, Rebekah Chu and Colin Loftin
Cohen (1998) describes a study showing that, in the US, regionally distributed culture controls the direction of the relationship between social disorganization and homicide…
Abstract
Cohen (1998) describes a study showing that, in the US, regionally distributed culture controls the direction of the relationship between social disorganization and homicide rates. In the South and West, where, according to the Nisbett‐Cohen theory, there is a “culture of honor”, strong community and family bonds increase argumentrelated homicides. Conversely, in the North, where cultural beliefs do not support violence in response to insults, strong social bonds decrease argument‐related homicides. A reanalysis shows that Cohen’s results are due to a few counties with atypical values that heavily influence the slope estimates. The data do not provide support for the Nisbett‐Cohen thesis that regional patterns in US homicide can be attributed to a culture of honor.
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Although typologies of violence have become more common, relatively little attention has been given to Donald Black’s (1983) distinction between moralistic and predatory violence…
Abstract
Although typologies of violence have become more common, relatively little attention has been given to Donald Black’s (1983) distinction between moralistic and predatory violence. Moralistic violence is rooted in conflict; predatory violence is rooted in exploitation. We elaborate Black’s typology and show how it is similar to, but distinct from, other typologies of violence. We also address the criteria by which typologies of any kind might be judged. Borrowing from the literatures on typologies and on standards of scientific theory, we argue that explanatory typologies should be evaluated according to four criteria: the degree to which they are powerful, theoretical, general, and parsimonious. Applying the criteria to Black’s typology, we argue that the distinction between moralistic and predatory violence is an important contribution to the arsenal of the student of violence.