NCJ Number
144961
Journal
Journal of Environmental Psychology Volume: 13 Dated: (1993) Pages: 71- 83
Date Published
1993
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The short-term influence of weather and temporal variables on the incidence of rape and domestic assault is examined.
Abstract
Data on all rape- and domestic violence-related calls for service received by the Minneapolis Police Department in 1985, 1987, and 1988 were analyzed. Weather information was linked to the data. Weather and temporal variables (time of day, day of week, month, holiday and school status, etc.) had a greater effect on domestic violence than on rape. Certain conditions such as high temperature may be conducive to certain behaviors, such as drinking, that are associated with a propensity toward violence. That these factors would affect domestic assault more than rape can be attributed to the nature of the crimes--domestic assault is usually spontaneous and impulsive, while rape is usually preplanned and therefore likely to be carried out independent of immediate situational conditions and contexts. Thus, domestic assault is easier to predict. 8 tables, 6 endnotes, and 43 references