NCJ Number
86516
Date Published
1981
Length
183 pages
Annotation
This research examines the theories of personal violent crime and the accompanying data support for each in order to arrive at a more adequate explanation than now exists.
Abstract
There are five theoretical approaches for personal violent crime: the psychogenic, the biogenic, the general cultural, the subcultural, and the symbolic interactionist. The data subsumed under each approach are thin and uneven. While each approach adds some knowledge of and insight into personal violent crime, neither the theoretical frames of reference nor data support bases permit systematic theory building or any unitary or multiple factor theory. Proponents of the psychogenetic approach have not established at a macro level that personal violent criminals suffer any more from mental disease or personality disorders than do nonviolent persons. The biogenetic approach is the most fragmentary and contradictory. The subculture approach explains only certain population groups are more likely to become involved in violent crime than other groups. The general cultural approach suggests, too broadly, that violent actors always reflect the characteristics of their social cultural world. The symbolic interactionist approach holds promise but must be more clearly defined. Further research on personal violent crime should take an eclectic approach, requiring a multidisciplinary endeavor and an articulation of different levels of analysis. About 115 references are appended. (Author abstract modified)