1. Chapter 4 Physical Violence

2. Introduction Myths cloud our understanding of physical violence –E.g. African Americans are more likely to kill whites; women kill their husbands (infidelity) Terrorism now accounts for much violence, especially in Israel and London © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

3. Assault and Aggravated Assault Assault: unlawful use of physical force against another person Aggravated assault involves intent to kill or the use of a deadly weapon –Where the victim survives rather than dies © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

4. Assault and Aggravated Assault Assaulters are less likely than murderers to use firearms Assault rises dramatically during the summer © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

5. Who is More Likely to Kill? Over 90% of murderers in the U.S. are in the lower classes Making up 12% of the general population, blacks account for 45% of the murders Most killings are INTRA-racial Southern region has the highest rate (10 per 100,000) © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

6. Who is More Likely to Kill? Large cities have a significantly higher murder rate than small cities/rural areas More men than women kill, and kill other men Women usually kill in defense of themselves in an abusive relationship © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

8. Who is More Likely to Kill? Both male and female murderers are relatively young –highest murder rate is aged 15-19 for males and aged 20-24 for females Today, the overall murder rate in the United States is lower than the mid- 1980s © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

9. Who is More Likely to Kill? Since 1985 murders committed by teenagers are on the rise –Many inner-city teenagers carry guns: To protect themselves, availability of guns, dysfunctional families, drugs, The declining quality of public schools, and increased violence on TV and in the movie © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

10. Patterns of Killing Fewer murders occur during fall and spring, and more during July and August; –They also peak during December Saturday night is the time of week murders most often occur. Higher class murders more premeditated; show no variation by time of year or week © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

11. Patterns of Killing Men commit murders inside and outside the house Women almost exclusively kill in their own homes, especially in the kitchen If guns were less available: –Many heated arguments would result in aggravated assaults rather than murders © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

12. Patterns of Killing In America, over 10,000 handgun homicides occur each year In other industrialized nations such as Canada, England, and Japan: –Guns are much harder to get; the number is less than 100 © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

13. What is it about the US and Gun Violence? © 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

14. Characteristics of Homicide Of all crimes, homicide is least likely to involve strangers (less than 20%) In 1/4 homicides the victim first attacks his subsequent slayer –Victim-precipitated homicide Most homicides result from a "character contest" among lower-class © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

15. Characteristics of Homicide Homicide-suicide offenders first kill another person and then themselves –Sociologists see suicide as remorse –Psychologists see suicide as psychosis Mass murder: killing a number of people at about the same time and place –Offenders usually die by their own hands or the hands of the police © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

16. Characteristics of Homicide Serial murder: involves killing a number of people one at a time. –Most murder in one city, plan what they do, stalk their victims, and lure them into traps –Often suffered abuse while children and cannot feel remorse for hurting others © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

18. Mass and Serial Murder Mass murder involves killing a number of people at about the same time and place Extraordinarily ordinary Disgruntled employees Pseudo-commandos Serial killers are far more elusive © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

19. The Social Profile of Serial Killers Most serial killers: –Usually seem like ordinary people –Are typically blue collar workers –Are usually white men in their late 20s or 30s –Are typically motivated by an intense desire for power and sadism © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

20. Global Perspective: Homicide Homicide rates are higher in developing countries Latin America has the highest homicide rate in the world – –Characteristic of “machismo culture” © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

21. Global Perspective: Homicide In the highly patriarchal societies such as the Middle East: –Women are likely to fall victim to “honor killings” by their male relatives The U.S. has the highest homicide rate among developed countries © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

22. School Violence School violence is attributed, in part, to: –The availability of guns, media violence, and a culture of violence Offenders are highly likely to be those rejected by parents and peers © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

23. Stalking Stalking: –Act of pursuing someone that creates the fear of being assaulted or killed Most stalkers know their victims Most cases are men stalking women No racial differences © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

24. Hate Killing 9,000 Americans per year experience hate crimes African Americans and gays are the most likely victims Most hate killers are part of hate groups, which are often formed in prison © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

25. Hate Killing Three types of hate killers: –thrill hate killers –defensive hate killers –mission hate killers © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

26. Genocide Genocide: whole-scale killing of a racial or ethnic group Perpetrators have a job of killing others under orders Bystanders are average citizens who usually do nothing © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

27. Genocide Theories of genocide: –physical or psychological separation between perpetrators and victims –dehumanization of victims –obedience to authority when asked –psychological ability to dissociate from the insanity of killing –Power – The more power that a government has: –The greater its ability to carry out killing on a large scale © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

28. Terrorism Terrorism: –Violence intended for a government but victims are usually innocent citizens –e.g. Timothy McVeigh, al Qaeda The suicide attacks of 9/11 were said to be waged against “the Great Satan” –Or the U.S., as part of a holy war © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

29. Terrorism The U.S. has obtained assistance from friendly Muslin countries –Such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Following 9/11: –Most Muslim nations express less support for terrorism than in the past © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

30. Why Do People Kill? Two popular theories: –External restraint theory: Tries to explain how the presence or absence of restraints controls the expression of frustration –Subculture of violence: basic cause of high homicide rates in poor neighborhoods © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

31. Does the Death Penalty Deter Murder? The death penalty is not very effective in deterring murder However, it does prevent the offender from committing further crime And satisfies the societal cry for retribution © 2013, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.