NCJ Number
53228
Journal
Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 3-32
Date Published
1978
Length
30 pages
Annotation
THE SOCIOLOGY OF VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSION IS EXPLORED, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FAMILY AGGRESSION AND CHILD AND YOUTH AGGRESSION IN CRIMINAL LAW.
Abstract
IN THE SOCIOLOGY OF CRIME AND CRIMINALITY, THE FOCUS IS ON CULTURAL AND GROUP FORCES THAT PRODUCE ACTORS WHO REPRESENT FORMS OF DEVIANCE FROM THE DOMINANT VALUE OR MORAL DEMAND SYSTEM. DEFINING VIOLENCE IS DIFFICULT, AND VIOLENCE CAN BE DISTINGUISHED FROM AGGRESSION IN GENERAL. VIOLENCE REFERS TO THE INTENTIONAL USE OF PHYSICAL FORCE ON ANOTHER PERSON. THE APPLICATION OF FORCE MAY BE USED CONSCIOUSLY TO DISCIPLINE A CHILD AND TEACH HIM THE LIMITS OF PERMITTED BEHAVIOR, TO REDUCE THE DOMESTIC NOISE LEVEL, TO EXPRESS PARENTAL DISAPPROVAL, AND EVEN UNCONSCIOUSLY AS A DISPLACEMENT FOR AGGRESSION ACTUALLY MEANT FOR OTHER TARGETS. THIS MODEL OF PARENT-CHILD INTERACTION IS A UNIVERSAL FEATURE OF ALL SOCIETIES. THE AGGRESSION OR VIOLENCE IN WHICH A CHILD ENGAGES IS AN EXPRESSED EXTENSION OF THIS BASIC MODEL. WITHIN THE BROADER CULTURAL CONTEXT, THERE IS A SUBCULTURE OF VIOLENCE. THE SUBCULTURE IS CHARACTERIZED BY A SET OF VALUES, ATTITUDES, AND BELIEFS ABOUT THE USE OF PHYSICAL AGGRESSION AS A MAJOR MODE OF PERSONAL INTERACTION AND AS A DEVICE FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS. THE ACTUAL EXTENT OF FAMILY VIOLENCE IS NOT KNOWN, ALTHOUGH SOME STUDIES HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED TO EVALUATE THE DEGREE AND CHARACTER OF SUCH VIOLENCE. THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CARRIED OUT A STUDY OF JUVENILE CRIME USING DATA COLLECTED ON A BIRTH COHORT OF BOYS BORN IN 1945. APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MALES BORN IN THAT YEAR WHO RESIDED IN PHILADELPHIA AT LEAST FROM AGES 10 THROUGH 18 YEARS WERE ANALYZED. FINDINGS SHOWED THAT SERIOUS OFFENSES WERE COMMITTED FREQUENTLY BY A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF OFFENDERS UP TO AGE 30 IN THE BIRTH COHORT. WITH RESPECT TO THE CHRONICITY OF OFFENDERS, NO JUSTIFICATION WAS FOUND FOR THE JUVENILE-ADULT DICHOTOMY; AT WHATEVER AGE THE CHRONIC OFFENDER BEGINS HIS FOURTH OR FIFTH OFFENSE, HE WILL COMMIT FURTHER OFFENSES WITH VERY HIGH PROBABILITIES. IMPLICATIONS OF CHANGES IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE REGARDING TREATMENT VERSUS PUNISHMENT, PREDICTION VERSUS RETRIBUTION, INDETERMINATE VERSUS DETERMINATE SENTENCES, COERCION VERSUS VOLUNTARISM, AND REMEDIES VERSUS RIGHTS ARE DISCUSSED. REFERENCES ARE CITED, AND SUPPORTING DATA ON THE PENNSYLVANIA BIRTH COHORT STUDY ARE TABULATED. (DEP)