RACE, STRESS AND FAMILY VIOLENCE (FROM STRESS AND CRIME P 73-85, 1980, BY MARTIN J MOLOF - SEE NCJ-67800)

• NCJ Number: 67803
• Author(s): R STAPLES
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: NCJ-67803 AVAILABLE ON MICROFICHE FROM NCJRS UNDER NCJ67800

Annotation

BLACK FAMILY VIOLENCE IS INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS FACTORS.

Abstract

CROSS-CULTURAL EVIDENCE DOES NOT SUPPORT BLACK VIOLENCE AS RESULTING FROM THAT GROUP'S PREDISPOSITION TO VIOLENCE. DATA ON AFRICAN SOCIETIES ILLUSTRATE THAT CULTURAL, NOT BIOLOGICAL, FACTORS ACCOUNT FOR THE HIGH HOMICIDE RATE AMONG AFRO-AMERICANS; AFRICAN RATES TEND NOT ONLY TO BE LOWER THAN AFRO-AMERICAN RATES BUT ALSO LOWER THAN RATES FOR THE GENERAL AMERICAN POPULATION. WHILE OTHER FORCES OPERATE IN THE INCIDENCE OF FAMILY CONFLICT THAT MAY TRANSCEND RACE, THE CRUCIAL VARIABLE IN MAINTAINING THE PRACTICE OF INTRAFAMILY VIOLENCE AMONG BLACKS HAS BEEN THEIR STATUS AS A DEVALUED RACIAL GROUP. BLACKS ARE SOCIALIZED INTO VIOLENCE VIA ROLE MODELING OF VIOLENT BLACK TELEVISION AND MOVIE HEROES, VIA NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE VIOLENCE IS THE NORM, AND VIA STATUS-CONFERRAL SYSTEMS IN BLACK LIFE THAT INITIATES THE YOUTH INTO ACTS OF AGGRESSION. IN THE GHETTO, THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ESTEEM IS RESERVED FOR THE BEST STREET FIGHTER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. HOWEVER, THE BLACK GHETTO IS NOTHING BUT A MICROCOSM OF THE ENTIRE SOCIETY; AMERICAN SOCIAL STRUCTURES CONTAIN ENDEMIC VIOLENCE AND A HOMICIDE RATE THAT IS HIGHER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. FOR BLACK MEN, RAPE IS OFTEN AN ACT OF AGGRESSION AGAINST WOMEN BECAUSE THE KINDS OF STATUS MEN CAN ACQUIRE THROUGH SUCCESS IN A JOB IS NOT AVAILABLE TO THEM. REASONS FOR VIOLENT MARITAL CONFLICT REVOLVE AROUND DISPUTES OVER MONEY, JEALOUSY, OR DRUNKEN BEHAVIOR. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BETWEEN SPOUSES ARISES FROM WOMEN'S SELF-PRESERVATION AGAINST VIOLENT HUSBANDS AND FROM HUSBANDS' SENSE OF POWERLESSNESS. ABUSE OF CHILDREN APPEARS TO ARISE FROM PARENTAL FRUSTRATION WITH ECONOMIC HARDSHIP. PARENT ABUSE IS TIED TO THE CULTURE OF VIOLENCE THAT IS GROWING IN THE OPPRESSIVE INNER CITIES. THUS THE CAUSE OF AND CULTURAL SUPPORT FOR VIOLENCE IN THE LARGER SOCIETY IS REDUCED. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOULD INSPECT MALE AND FEMALE ROLES, EMPLOYMENT TRENDS, AND FAMILIAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS AMONG BLACKS. FORTY-ONE REFERENCES ARE SUPPLIED.