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Full-Text Articles in Criminology

‘Climate Change’ And Its Bearing On Violent Crimes In A Rio Grande Valley City In Texas, Vanessa Valdez May 2011

‘Climate Change’ And Its Bearing On Violent Crimes In A Rio Grande Valley City In Texas, Vanessa Valdez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Previous theories have attributed aggression to biological influences but this thesis will focus on the frustration-aggression hypothesis. If such a theory is relevant, weather may have an effect on violent crime. This study intends to answer whether a relationship between violence (specifically violent crime) and warm temperatures exists and what type of relationship exists. The study tests the hypothesis that warm temperatures will have a positive association with violent crime. Based on secondary data the Part I Index crimes (Violent) or murder rape, robbery, and aggravated assault were collapsed into two variables, ‘Violent’ which omitted robbery and ‘Violent 2’ which …


The Social Origin Of Violent Behavior, Todd Arthur Mensink Jan 2011

The Social Origin Of Violent Behavior, Todd Arthur Mensink

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study examines the social origins of extremely violent behavior. Numerous explanations of violent offenders have focused on biological, psychological, environmental or a combination of these factors to explain violence. Most explanations of violent behavior fail to take a holistic approach to understand the cause of violent behavior. This study is an analysis of the applicability of the violentization theory. Data was obtained through in-depth semi-structured interviews from six violent offenders in a residential treatment faciIity in the Midwest. Findings indicate that for most offenders, the violentization theory is consistent with their social experiences. However, two exceptions pertained to the …


The Value Of Human Life : An Individual-Level Determinant Of Violence, Maria Tcherni Jan 2011

The Value Of Human Life : An Individual-Level Determinant Of Violence, Maria Tcherni

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

My contribution to the study of causes of violence in criminology is introducing a theoretical concept of the Value of Life (VL) and developing an empirical solution to measuring it. The value that an individual implicitly assigns to the human life - both his/her own life and other people's lives - is a theoretical concept that synthesizes information about precursors, correlates, and determinates of violence. The VL concept provides a meaningful way to explain some phenomena not commonly associated with violent behavior (for example, reckless behavior with regard to one's health), while also illuminating some puzzling associations consistently found in …


Darwin's Other Idea : Sexual Selection, Gender And Violence, Robert Samuel Moschgat Jan 2011

Darwin's Other Idea : Sexual Selection, Gender And Violence, Robert Samuel Moschgat

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This dissertation provides an empirical exploration of Darwin's theory of sexual selection, which views the male propensity to engage in short term mating strategies--sexual promiscuity and violence--as the result of sexual selection. Within an environmental context, biological father and mother household presence are expected to inhibit the initiation of short-term mating strategies and increase parental investment--paternal and maternal attachments, supervision, and protection. Whereas, structural disadvantage--living in poverty and in dangerous neighborhoods--is predicted to increase the initiation of a short-term mating strategies and compromise the parents' ability to protect their children and by weakening paternal and maternal attachments, thereby increasing the …