Quote :

"In researching the new book American Homicide (Harvard University Press, 2009), an Ohio State University historian tried to make sense of changing homicide rates by sifting through records of tens of thousands of homicides in the United States and western Europe over the past four centuries. He concluded that people's views about the legitimacy of government and how much they identify with their fellow citizens play a major role in how often they kill each other - much more so than the usual theories revolving around guns, poverty, drugs, race, or a permissive justice system. "The predisposition to murder is rooted in feelings and beliefs people have toward government and their fellow citizens," said Randolph Roth, author of the book and professor of history at Ohio State. "It is these factors, which may seem impossibly remote from murder, that hold the key to understanding why the United States is so homicidal today." While Roth said his theory may seem strange at first, it fits the evidence much better than all the other theories about what drives people to murder. "You look at all the other theories, and they die a horrible death in the face of the evidence," he said. That includes theories held dear by both conservatives and liberals. If you look at the evidence over time, poverty and unemployment don't lead to higher murder rates, as many liberals argue, he said. But locking up criminals, using the death penalty, and adding more police don't hold the murder rate down either, as conservatives claim."

http://www.physorg.com/news178892349.html


[words] but rather interesting ones, well worth a read.


Summary:

Quote :

"In his analysis, Roth found four factors that relate to the homicide rate in parts of the United States and western Europe throughout the past four centuries: the belief that one's government is stable and its justice and legal systems are unbiased and effective; a feeling of trust in government officials and a belief in their legitimacy; a sense of patriotism and solidarity with fellow citizens; and a belief that one's position is society is satisfactory and that one can command respect without resorting to violence."

12/2/2009 10:23:34 PM

Quote :

""As Americans, so many of us hate or distrust our government. You can see it today in the anti-government rallies in Washington, D.C. and elsewhere. It's been part of our culture since the very beginning, but especially since the Civil War, and it is one reason why we have such a high homicide rate," he said. Roth said the results of his analysis provide some warnings for the future. Data from early this year suggests the homicide rate in the United States fell during the first half of this year, which makes sense as the nation rallied around a new president who promised to help unite the country."

This is the sort of thing that worries me when I see histrionics on TV and radio from nutjobs on both sides. Someone's enabling some unbalanced wingnut to go do something they'll regret.

[Edited on December 2, 2009 at 10:30 PM. Reason : excellent find, Rob]

12/2/2009 10:30:19 PM

I'd be interested to see what homicide rates looked like in the few months immediately following 9-11.

In terms of the feeling of patriotism and belonging, that was probably one of the most united that this country felt in the past 20 years or so.

12/2/2009 10:31:46 PM

Probably dropped like a stone.

12/2/2009 10:34:00 PM

Well right, that's what I could assume based on the article that he posted, but I'm talking about actual numbers.

12/2/2009 10:37:04 PM

^^^^ But would not voicing that sentiment make it go away? Would Glen Beck get any traction if there weren't people already feeling left out? Would people really believe that AIDS was invented by the government to kill black people if they didn't already feel disenfranchised.


It is easy to point to the symptoms and declare them the disease, but I suspect the roots are far deeper.

12/2/2009 10:37:14 PM

No, I get that. I'm saying that they're an echo chamber for that sort of thing. An outlet for it. Except it's getting some people worked up far more than may be healthy. If he got enough people worked up enough to march on Washington, I'm concerned that eventually it's going to stop being "civil" and start being violent.

12/2/2009 10:44:25 PM

You could just as easily argue (since I suspect that neither of us has any empirical evidence) that it is a release valve for the same emotions. I see your point, but what might work one person into a frenzy just be the relief of another. I don't know, I just found the results interesting and would love to see follow up work.

12/2/2009 10:46:55 PM

^ Exactly. I guess my point is that it only takes one.

Still, good read.

12/2/2009 10:48:39 PM

I'd like to state for the record that I hate all of you and the government. I question the legitimacy of all of your collective existences.

12/2/2009 11:19:11 PM

And boy do you sure let us know!

12/2/2009 11:21:20 PM

(it's okay - I question the legitimacy of my existence as well)

12/2/2009 11:28:29 PM

I believe you're real, LunaK.

12/2/2009 11:30:03 PM