NCJ Number
64262
Date Published
1980
Length
133 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY OF VIOLENT CRIMINALITY IS MADE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM, WHICH EXPLAINS ACTION THROUGH THE ACTOR'S SELF-IMAGE AND OWN JUDGMENT OF THE SITUATION.
Abstract
A CRITIQUE OF TRADITIONAL THEORIES OF VIOLENT CRIMINALITY CONSIDERS THE EXTERNAL PATTERN APPROACH, THE PERSONALITY APPROACH, AND THE INTEGRATED APPROACH. ALL THREE ARE POSITIVISTIC, INTERPRETING HUMAN ACTION BY EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION OF ANTECEDENT FACTORS AND OVERT CONDUCT. IN CONTRAST, THIS APPROACH IS INTERPRETIVE, RECOGNIZING HUMAN ACTION AS SITUATED, AND THE HUMAN BEING AS ACTOR. THE VIEWPOINT OF THE PERSON WHOSE ACTIONS ARE UNDER STUDY IS EXPLICITLY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN EXPLAINING CONDUCT. SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM IS USED TO ANALYZE INDEPTH INTERVIEWS WITH 58 OFFENDERS CONVICTED OF CRIMINAL HOMICIDE. DATA WERE GATHERED BY HAVING SUBJECTS DESCRIBE IN DETAIL WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE SITUATIONS IN WHICH THEY COMMITTED THEIR VIOLENT CRIMES AND WHAT WENT ON IN THEIR MINDS WHILE THE SITUATIONS WERE UNFOLDING. QUOTATIONS FROM THESE INTERVIEWS ARE USED TO SUBSTANTIATE CATEGORIES IDENTIFIED FOR VIOLENT CRIMINALITY. THE FINDINGS SHOW THAT VIOLENT ACTORS FORM INTERPRETATIONS OF THE SITUATIONS IN WHICH THEY PERFORM VIOLENT CRIMINAL ACTS AND THAT THESE INTERPRETATIONS DETERMINE THE ACTS. THIS CONTRADICTS PREVIOUS LITERATURE WHICH ARGUES THAT VIOLENT CRIMINAL ACTS RESULT FROM UNCONSCIOUS MOTIVATION AND INNER PSYCHIC CONFLICT. HOWEVER, IT WAS FOUND THAT NOT ALL VIOLENT INTERPRETATIONS RESULT IN VIOLENT ACTION, AND FURTHER RESEARCH IS RECOMMENDED IN THIS AREA. NOTES, DATA ON CONVICTED VIOLENT OFFENDERS, PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION OF VIOLENT ACTORS AND ACTS, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND AN INDEX ARE APPENDED. (MRK)