Paper Example on Subculture of Violence

Introduction

The subculture of violence is explained as the attitude, norms as well as values within a particular social group where there is the acceptance of violence as a way of lifestyle. Through the concept, there is the indication that there is a possibility of violence thriving within a social group and with very little or no efforts to curb its existence. Through the variation of different theories addressing the subculture of violence, most of the violent activities take place in a social setting that falls under a lower status in a county. Poverty is among the factors that contribute to the presence of violent activities. In the effort of individuals in a social group maintaining their social status or keeping up with the society and with the absence of the required resources, there is the high chance of crime engagement as viewed from various sources. There are internal and external factors that influence the presence of violent crimes within a social group and among them is the social culture that is attributed to the same group. This means that there is the possibility that an individual or a group of people will take part in violent activities as a lesson from the already existing culture around them. As explained by different theories, crimes are as a result of one's choice to engage as well as the influence from the external factors such as the social setting or the people around them. The concept 'subculture of violence' is supposed to help in understanding the external factors in a social group that influence the [presence of violence as well as crime within the social setting.

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The concept has been explained using various ideologies from the three sources. However, there are common issues that have been brought about through the articles regarding the concept explanation. Through the articles, it is clear that poverty is a common issue in the social settings which take violence as part of the lifestyle. As seen through the statistical collection of information from the relevant sources such as the police reports, it is clear that most cases that have been reported concerning the presence of violence originate from places that have a low-status of the economy. This mostly takes place in the cities and towns that are characterized by a large population. The articles also help in the realization of the reasons behind the presence of violent activities in a social setting through the incorporation of several theories that explain crime. It is essential to understand that violence is closely associated with homicide where the after-effects include the death of a victim as well as the sustenance of injuries during the activity. These theories have been based upon the interrelationship that exists between the victim and the offender concerning the violence committed.

The three articles tend to explain the concept 'subculture of violence' through the comparison of the concept to the other issues. The articles have taken the aspect of homicide as part of the consequences of violent crimes. The information that has been presented in the articles shows the interconnection of varying terms in the explanation of violence and homicide (Parker, R.N. 1989). Also, there are varying but similar concepts that have been incorporated in the articles to explain the presence of homicide through violence. It is essential to understand that the articles have kept constant the issue of the low status of the society as the main contributor to the crimes that take place in the major cities. As explained in the discussion below, there are many contributions of poverty among the other undermining factors in ensuring that crime and violence thrive in the social setting. Through the consideration of arguments that have been presented in the articles, there is the possibility of drawing certain conclusions regarding violence and homicide. It is essential to understand that there several factors which contribute to an individual taking part in the criminal activities in which there is violence involved and eventually, homicide. This is concerning the reports that have been issued from the relevant sources. These factors can be categorized as internal or external factors. In the discussion below, there is more concern about the external factors that initiate the presence of violence in a social setting. The discussion puts into consideration that violence takes place in a social setting and therefore, the setting for the discussion is the low-status regions that have been characterized with poverty and where some conditions and settings favor the presence or initiation of violence. Other factors that might be considered include ethnicity where crime is based upon the ethnic division within a social setting but the most influential factor of consideration is the culture of a particular social group which not only leads to ignition of violence but also contributes to the sustenance of the activity within a group (Mcgloin, Schreck, Stewart, & Ousey,2011). The following discussion, therefore, is an analysis of the Subculture of Violence concept focusing on the poor social setting concerning the three articles that have explained the concept further.

Concept Use and Value

The concept 'Subculture of Violence' is a vital topic in the society which helps in the understanding crime and the prime factors. The topic is supposed to deal with the external factors which influence and prompt the occurrence of crime in a social setting. Through the previous criminal records, it is supposed that the social settings that are classified as below the economic status of the country are most affected with violence as a result of the more significant population that is willing to take part in the criminal activities. Criminal activities are carried out by an individual or a group of individuals committed to taking part in a crime and this case, there is the involvement of gangs. Gang violence has been a significant issue in towns and cities where there are high levels of dependence. This means that most people live under the dependency belt where a small sample of the population is employed. Gang violence and criminal activities have been associated with the younger generation of people aging between sixteen to twenty-five years. With the high costs of living and the inability to access the required resources of a better livelihood, there is the high chance that people will turn to crimes in the effort of sustaining their needs. The mention of gangs triggers the thought of violence which is inevitable as there is the incorporation of weaponry while committing the crimes (Parker, R.N. 1989). According to the reports that have been made concerning the criminal activities and which include the use of violence, the people that have been caught and who are part of the activities are young and are not occupied with work and therefore creating the reason to engage in the violent activities. There is the issue of the social mentality which helps the thriving of criminal activities. This is the situation where the society is reluctant in dealing with the violent crimes as a result of normality in the social setting. There might be difficulties that are faced by the authorities while addressing the issue of violence in the social settings because in most cases there is the wrong motivation of the people who are not willing to expose the individuals or gangs that are involved in the crimes. Also, there is the involvement of drug abuse in the cases of violence were a significant characteristic of the gang violence in the presence of drugs that act as the motivation to take part in a crime. There is a revelation from the articles that the explanation of the violence in the society can be approached through the incorporation of two theories. The first theory is the social-economic theory where criminal activities are judged upon the economic status of the individual as well as the society. The other approach that has been used frequently is the subcultural theory where there is the tendency to commit a violent crime with the presence of a social setting that is reluctant to deal with the criminal activities (Moran, R. 1971). The sub-cultural theory is a theory that shows the emergence of a culture in a society as a result of the current situation within the social setting. In urban populations, there is the integration of people from different backgrounds and ethnicity which pulls the trigger to people caring less about the society and focusing more on the individual activities, this is a sub-culture that is grown among the people and which was not present in the same setting previously. As a result of the integration, people are vulnerable to taking part in activities that are not appreciated morally but with no one to speak it out loud. The incorporation of poverty increases the chances of homicide and other crimes in the social setting as the individuals in the gangs try to make something out of nothing.

Conclusion

Subculture in violence is an important concept that needs to be addressed further in the effort of understanding the contribution of a social setting to the engagement in violent activities. The three articles have incorporated the external restraint theory as well as the social economic models in the explanation of the presence of violent crimes and homicides in a social setting. Therefore, the concept of the social setting has been explained to raise the awareness of the contributors to the current situation in most of the towns and cities. Through the evidence that has been incorporated in the three articles, it is clear that authorities are part of the solution to the problem but can only pose impacts on the concept through the support from the members of the society. There is the great need to put an end to the prevailing mentality in a society, hence curbing the violent crimes and homicide. Poverty is not a gate pass or a reason for the individuals in the society to take part in criminal activities.

References

Mcgloin, J.M., Schreck, C.J., Stewart, E.A., & Ousey, G.C. (2011). Predicting the violent offender: The discriminant validity of the subculture of violence. Criminology, 49(3), 767-794.

Parker, R.N. (1989). Poverty, a subculture of violence, and the type of homicide. Social Forces, 67(4), 984-1004.

Moran, R. (1971). Criminal homicide: External restraint and subculture of violence. Criminology, 8(4), 357-374.