Predicting the Violent Offender: The Discriminant Validity of the Subculture of Violence

• NCJ Number: 235913
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 49 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2011 Pages: 767-794
• Author(s): Jean Marie McGloin; Christopher J. Schreck; Eric A. Stewart; Graham C. Ousey
• Date Published: August 2011
• Length: 28 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the validity of the subculture of violence.

Abstract

This study tests the extent to which an adherence to the subculture of violence uniquely predicts a tendency to favor violence or instead predicts a more generalized offending repertoire, of which violence is part. Specifically, the authors use a unique analytic technique that provides the opportunity to distinguish empirically between the "violent offender" and/or the "frequent offender." The results suggest that holding values favorable toward violence consistently predicts general offending but do not identify youth who systematically favor violence over nonviolence. This discussion considers the impact of these findings for the continued utility of the subculture of violence perspective. (Published Abstract)