NCJ Number
99927
Journal
Sociological Spectrum Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: (1985) Pages: 197-211
Date Published
1985
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relative influence of Southern culture and social structural variables (poverty, urbanization, and percentages of blacks and youth in the population) on primary (dispute-motivated) and nonprimary (crime-motivated) homicide rates in Louisiana.
Abstract
The study hypothesized that the Southern culture of violence fosters only those forms of homicide that threaten the offender's self-esteem (primary homicide). Multiple regression analysis was used to compare the homicide determinants in parishes (counties) having typical Southern cultural heritage with counties having French-Catholic heritage. Data on structural variables were also obtained for the counties. Homicide data were obtained from the Uniform Crime Reports for 1971-79. The analysis determined the independent influence of each variable as well as their predictive power with respect to the dependent variables (primary and nonprimary homicide). Southern culture exerted a greater influence on primary homicide rates than did most of the structural variables; however, it had no significant influence on nonprimary homicide. Suggestions are offered for future studies in this area. Tabular data and 31 references are provided. (Author abstract modified)