Journal article
Weapon Lethality and Social Distance: A National Test of a Social Structural Theory
Justice quarterly, Vol.28(4), pp.576-605
01/01/2011
DOI: 10.1080/07418825.2010.516006
Abstract
Three paradigms can be used to explain weapon lethality: rational choice and deterrence theory; social learning and cultural theory; and opportunity and prevalence theory. Each makes distinct predictions regarding the economic, psychological, and environmental factors that affect the use of weapons. Despite their merits, the sum of knowledge about violence and weapons may be increased by exploring the influence of variables derived from another paradigm: pure sociology. Black's theory of retaliation and Cooney's principle of predation provide the underpinning for a social structural-based theoretical principle of weapon lethality. Building on those ideas, we propose that the lethality of weapons involved in interpersonal violence increases as the offenders and victims become less intimate and less alike culturally. Using National Crime Victimization Survey data, we test two hypotheses derived from this principle and primarily find support of the proposed social structural principle.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Weapon Lethality and Social Distance: A National Test of a Social Structural Theory
- Creators
- Callie Marie Rennison - University of Colorado DenverScott Jacques - Univ Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221 USAMark T. Berg - Purdue University West Lafayette
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Justice quarterly, Vol.28(4), pp.576-605
- DOI
- 10.1080/07418825.2010.516006
- ISSN
- 0741-8825
- eISSN
- 1745-9109
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Number of pages
- 30
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/2011
- Academic Unit
- Sociology and Criminology; Center for Social Science Innovation; Injury Prevention Research Center; Public Policy Center (Archive)
- Record Identifier
- 9984282621402771
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