The Subculture of Violence

Homicide in black and white

“…The rough equivalence of racial homicide rates in rural areas also casts doubt on explanations of the disparity that rely on a "subculture of violence" (e.g., Wolfgang and Ferracuti 1967). If blacks have a subculture of violence and have traditionally lived in rural areas, why shouldn't the subculture be most strongly manifest in rural areas?…”

Nurturing for Careers in Drug Use and Crime: Conduct Norms for Children and Juveniles in Crack-Using Households

“…This paper draws from a long theoretical tradition in anthropology and criminology (Wolfgang, 1958(Wolfgang, , 1967Wolfgang and Ferracuti, 1967;Curtis, 1975;Silberman, 1978;Blau and Blau, 1982;Currie, 1985;Daly and Wilson, 1988). However, most such theories assert that particular structural positions are characterized by high rates of violence because a significant proportion of people subscribe to and act in accordance with cultural beliefs that sanction violence.…”

“…However, most such theories assert that particular structural positions are characterized by high rates of violence because a significant proportion of people subscribe to and act in accordance with cultural beliefs that sanction violence. In a seminal essay, Wolfgang and Ferracuti (1967) extensively reviewed the intellectual traditions, defined key concepts, and reviewed a wide variety of statistical evidence suggesting the probable existence of a subculture of violence (see Note 1) in several parts of the world.…”

“…Individuals who do not smoke marijuana will likely be sanctioned by being excluded from the group in the future, others will be warned to share their pot with others, or be unwelcomed (ostracized) by the group when they decline to share (Johnson, 1973). 3 It must be noted that Sellin (1938) and Wolfgang and Ferracuti (1967) used the term "conduct norms" to refer to what we call "norms (general)" within a subculture. The definition of "conduct norms" provided here is designed to be more specific in time, place, and sets of actors than are "norms" within the subculture.…”

The Care of Violent Patients by Psychiatrists: A Tale of Two Cities

“…The government-sponsored medical care system in British Columbia ensures that psychiatrists are paid for consultation or treatment of patients in any setting, the only stipulation being that a general practitioner must have referred the patient. The influence of financial factors becomes even more understandable when one considers that violence is associated with lower socioeconomic status (7) and that these patients are less likely to afford private outpatient psychiatry in the United States where insurance coverage is limited to inpatient treatment or outpatient clinics affiliated with hospitals. This may account for Boston psychiatrists in training (versus those in practice) having had greater experience with violent patients since residents are primarily responsible for the treatment of patients in outpatient clinics and emergency rooms.…”