NCJ Number
26077
Journal
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY, DELINQUENCY, AND DEVIANT SOCIAL BEHAVIOR Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1975) Pages: 157-166
Date Published
1975
Length
12 pages
Annotation
STUDY WHICH ANALYZED ALL KNOWN AND SOLVED CASES OF CRIMINAL HOMICIDE IN ISRAEL BETWEEN 1950 AND 1964 AND COMPARED ORIENTAL JEWISH, WESTERN JEWISH, AND NON-JEWISH (MAINLY ARAB) OFFENDERS.
Abstract
IT WAS HYPOTHESIZED THAT THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURAL NORMS AND TRADITIONS ON BEHAVIOR WOULD BE CLEARLY REFLECTED. THE TOPICS INVESTIGATED IN THIS STUDY, WHICH INVOLVED 279 OFFENDERS AND 311 VICTIMS, INCLUDED THE TYPE OF HOMICIDE AS WELL AS THE PATHOLOGIES OF THE OFFENDERS PRIOR TO THEIR CAPITAL CRIME: TYPE OF FIRST KNOWN DISTURBED OR DEVIANT BEHAVIOR, PREVIOUS PHYSICAL ILLNESS OR HANDICAP, AND HOSPITALIZATION FOR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DISORDERS. STUDY FINDINGS REVEALED THAT WESTERN JEWS WERE THE LOWEST AS REGARDS OUTWARD-DIRECTED PERSONAL VIOLENCE (LOWEST HOMICIDE RATE), AND THE HIGHEST AS REGARDS INWARD-DIRECTED VIOLENCE (SUICIDE AND HOMICIDE-SUICIDE CASES). THIS GROUP ALSO EXHIBITED THE HIGHEST PROPORTION OF INSANITY AMONG OFFENDERS, AND OF PHYSICAL AND MENTAL PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE HOMICIDE. NON-JEWS, THE HIGHEST AS REGARDS ACTING-OUT VIOLENT BEHAVIOUR (HIGHEST HOMICIDE RATE), WERE LOWEST AS REGARDS INWARD-DIRECTED VIOLENCE (SUICIDE AND HOMICIDE-SUICIDE). AMONG THIS GROUP THERE WAS ALSO THE LOWEST PROPORTION OF INSANITY AND OF PHYSICAL AS WELL AS MENTAL PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE HOMICIDE. ORIENTAL JEWS WERE LOCATED BETWEEN THESE TWO EXTREMES. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)