Crime and ViolenceCrime and Violence

Crime and Violence across human societiesCrime and Violence across human societies– Which societies have the most crime?Which societies have the most crime?

Who is most likely to commit crime?Who is most likely to commit crime?– The Young Male SyndromeThe Young Male Syndrome– What keeps young men on the straight and What keeps young men on the straight and

narrow?narrow? Contemporary patterns of crime in the U.S.Contemporary patterns of crime in the U.S.

– Why has crime decreased recently?Why has crime decreased recently?– How does the U.S. compare to other countries?How does the U.S. compare to other countries?

Why do people commit crime?Why do people commit crime?– Where you live: Social disorganizationWhere you live: Social disorganization– Who you hang out with: Differential associationWho you hang out with: Differential association– What do you have to lose?What do you have to lose?

Crime and Violence Crime and Violence across human across human societiessocieties Which societies have the most Which societies have the most

crime?crime? With regard to premodern With regard to premodern

societies it is difficult to know how societies it is difficult to know how much crime and violence much crime and violence occurred because there are no occurred because there are no good records. good records.

Studies of contemporary horticultural Studies of contemporary horticultural and hunting and gathering societies and hunting and gathering societies show high levels of violence show high levels of violence compared to the contemporary U.S.compared to the contemporary U.S.

E.g.!Kung hunter gathers (1963–E.g.!Kung hunter gathers (1963–1969) had homicide rate of 0.29 1969) had homicide rate of 0.29 persons per 1000 per year—persons per 1000 per year—approximately four times the approximately four times the contemporary U.S. rate.contemporary U.S. rate.

Seems to be a general trendSeems to be a general trend In the contemporary world, less In the contemporary world, less

developed societies have higher developed societies have higher homicide rates than more homicide rates than more developed societies.developed societies.

United States stands out from United States stands out from other developed countries as other developed countries as having a comparatively high rate having a comparatively high rate of homicide. of homicide.

The U.S. homicide rate average The U.S. homicide rate average 7.51 per 100,000 residents, the 7.51 per 100,000 residents, the highest in the developed world. highest in the developed world.

Why is this so?Why is this so?

More individualistic ethos and More individualistic ethos and fewer social welfare benefits in fewer social welfare benefits in the United States may promote the United States may promote individualized means of attaining individualized means of attaining status and resources, including status and resources, including criminal means.criminal means.

Who is most likely to Who is most likely to commit crime?commit crime? In all societies, the vast majority In all societies, the vast majority

of homicides and other violent of homicides and other violent crimes are committed by men.crimes are committed by men.

In most of societies, more than 90% of the same-sex homicides are committed by males.

In the United States, most victims In the United States, most victims and perpetrators in homicides are and perpetrators in homicides are malemale

Percentage Distribution of Single-Offender Victimizations, by Type of Crime and Perceived Gender of Offender 2006

Women are more likely than men to be killed by an intimate or family member

Men are more likely to be killed by an acquaintance or stranger

In particular, it is young men In particular, it is young men aged 18–24 years who are most aged 18–24 years who are most likely to perpetrate crimes.likely to perpetrate crimes.

This is often referred to as the This is often referred to as the young male syndrome.young male syndrome.

At age 20 years, men are approx. At age 20 years, men are approx. six times more likely than females six times more likely than females to be the victims of homicide.to be the victims of homicide.

Men are much more likely than Men are much more likely than women to have spent time in women to have spent time in prisonprison

Men in age groups 25–34 and 35–Men in age groups 25–34 and 35–44 years have the highest 44 years have the highest probability of having spent time in probability of having spent time in state or federal prison.state or federal prison.

Why are young men disproportionately Why are young men disproportionately involved in crime?involved in crime?

In ancestral environment, this was the In ancestral environment, this was the time when a young man seeking a wife time when a young man seeking a wife had to display formidable physical had to display formidable physical prowess in hunting, tribal raids, tribal prowess in hunting, tribal raids, tribal defense, and defense of his interests. defense, and defense of his interests.

Men who did not show prowess in these Men who did not show prowess in these areas were unlikely to obtain a wife.areas were unlikely to obtain a wife.

In a modern environment, men no longer have to show prowess at hunting and warfare, but they do have to earn money and status.

For some men, particularly those without recourse to legitimate methods of earning money and status, crime and violent behavior can be a way to earn those things.

What Keeps Young Men What Keeps Young Men on the Straight and on the Straight and Narrow?Narrow? Presence of a biological father Presence of a biological father

when growing upwhen growing up Legitimate means of obtaining Legitimate means of obtaining

resources and statusresources and status

Contemporary Contemporary patterns of crime in patterns of crime in the U.S.the U.S. All types of crime have been All types of crime have been

decreasing recently.decreasing recently.

Why has crime Why has crime decreased recently?decreased recently? Better policing, economic growth, Better policing, economic growth,

and changing demography and a and changing demography and a decline in the proportion of decline in the proportion of people in high-crime agespeople in high-crime ages

Levitt’s controversial idea of Levitt’s controversial idea of legalized abortion playing a role legalized abortion playing a role in recent declines in crimein recent declines in crime

Another explanation is that Another explanation is that because incarceration rates have because incarceration rates have increased, there are fewer cases increased, there are fewer cases of former criminals committing of former criminals committing new crimes.new crimes.

The United States has the highest The United States has the highest prison incarceration rate in the world prison incarceration rate in the world at 756 per 100,000 of the national at 756 per 100,000 of the national population. population.

It is followed by Russia (629 per It is followed by Russia (629 per 100,000), Rwanda (604 per 100,000), 100,000), Rwanda (604 per 100,000), St. Kitts & Nevis (588 per 100,000), St. Kitts & Nevis (588 per 100,000), and Cuba (approximately 531 per and Cuba (approximately 531 per 100,000)100,000)

Why do people commit Why do people commit crime?crime? Where you live: Social Where you live: Social

disorganizationdisorganization Poor neighborhoods with high rates Poor neighborhoods with high rates

of people moving in and out, many of people moving in and out, many different ethnic groups, and high different ethnic groups, and high rates of family disruption have the rates of family disruption have the highest crime rateshighest crime rates

Homes are unwatched, children Homes are unwatched, children are inadequately supervisedare inadequately supervised

Who you hang out with: Who you hang out with: Differential association theoryDifferential association theory

If your friends encourage criminal If your friends encourage criminal behaviors, then you are more behaviors, then you are more likely to become involved in likely to become involved in criminal behaviorcriminal behavior

What do you have to lose?What do you have to lose?

What people have to What people have to lose is based on theirlose is based on their AttachmentsAttachments People with strong attachments People with strong attachments

to people who expect them to live to people who expect them to live up to certain standards are less up to certain standards are less likely to commit crimelikely to commit crime

InvestmentsInvestments People with a great deal invested People with a great deal invested

in a home, a career, a family, or a in a home, a career, a family, or a lifestyle, are less willing to do lifestyle, are less willing to do things that jeopardize those things that jeopardize those investments.investments.

InvolvementsInvolvements People involved in many People involved in many

legitimate activities, are unlikely legitimate activities, are unlikely to have the time for criminal acts.to have the time for criminal acts.

BeliefsBeliefs People who believe strongly that People who believe strongly that

they should act in certain ways, they should act in certain ways, and not in others, are less likely and not in others, are less likely to engage in criminal acts.to engage in criminal acts.