How common is family violence? What are the patterns of intimate partner violence (offenders, victims, weapons, location, etc.)?
1.2/100,000 female population, 47,000 worldwide
Offender - most likely male
Victim - most likely female
Weapon - physical violence or even a gun
Location - ?
Is abuse committed more often by men or women? Are the consequences the same?
More by men than by women
Women have a greater risk for consequences
Describe the cycle of domestic violence.
Tension building phase
Battering phase
Loving/contrition phase
Discuss research support for the view that the greater the inequality between intimate partners, the greater the risk for violence.
Relationship powers and abuse
For example. Woman gets pregnant (loses power ), man gets more power and thinks he is superior which leads to a greater risk of violence
What is meant by the statement that intimate partner violence is “chronic”? Is that supported by research on intimate partner violence in other countries?
Chronic means the violence is persistent
Why do victims of domestic abuse stay in abusive relationships?
Shocked by the act and forgives the offender
There are children involved and hopes it will get better with time
Leaving can be good short-term but not long-term
Women are financially dependent on their husband
Threats towards friends and family
Limited space in shelter
How many children are killed by parents each year? Discuss the patterns of child murder. Why do parents kill their children?
500 per year
About 75% are 6 years old or younger
Sons are more likely to get killed
"Personal weapons" used to kill (younger children)
Father likely to kill older children
Older child more likely to be killed by a gun
How many parents are killed by their children? What are some of the warning signs or correlates?
250-300 per year
Child raised in dysfunctional family
Ongoing family violence
Failed attempts to get help
Child becomes stressed and vulnerable
There's a firearm in the household
Parricide typology
Classification of reasons why children kill their parents
Severely abused children
Kill their abusive parent to end the abuse
Dangerously antisocial children
Kill the parent to further their own goals, as the parent is an obstacle in their path
Severely mentally ill children
Kill the parent largely as a result of severe mental illness
This type (severely abused children killing abusive parent)
Is most common among juvenile offenders
Severely mentally ill children killing parent
More common among adult offenders
What are the effects of harsh physical discipline on children? Are there time periods in which children are at greater risk for abuse/murder?
Children under 5 have a greater risk, even greater is under 3 - these ages are less independent
There's also a greater risk if the child has a disability
Punishment can lead to aggression and delinquency
Parents who approve physical punishment are 4 times likely to abuse their children
How did the term, “Going Postal” originate and what were some of its consequences?
2 shootings blew up this term in the 1980s
Postal workers were stressed and went bananas
People thought being a mailman was super dangerous
Postal workers are 1/3 times less likely to get murdered at work
How common is lethal and non-lethal workplace violence?
Lethal
400-1,000 homicides per year
Non-lethal
Simple Assault: 4 per 1000
Aggravated Assault: 0.9 per 1000
Robbery: 0.2 per 1000
Rape/sexual assault: 0.1 per 1000
What are the different types of workplace violence? Which type is most common?
Simple Assault: 4 per 1000
Aggravated Assault: 0.9 per 1000
Robbery: 0.2 per 1000
Rape/sexual assault: 0.1 per 1000
Simple assault is most common
Who is more likely to be the victims of lethal workplace violence, men or women? What types of occupations and industries have high rates of violence? What about these jobs makes them risky?
Males, more than 65%
Law enforcement, nurses, mental health professionals and teachers have the highest rates
Violence is present in their daily activities, such as for cops and at schools
Define and discuss the concepts of routine activities theory.
Crime occurs when there are suitable targets
Occurs when offenders are out
Occurs when there are no guardians or bystanders aka late at night or super early morning
How does non-lethal violence compare to lethal workplace violence? What are the characteristics of the victims and circumstances?
Non-lethal
Males are more likely to be a victim unless it's sexual assault or abuse
Same gender attack each other
Lethal
Victims are males, 80%
More males work in the fields and have more dangerous jobs
Retail and service + drivers and chauffeurs are at most risk
Define and discuss the application or rational choice and aggression theory on workplace violence
Assessing costs and benefits of their choice
Aggression is instrumental behavior
Can workplace violence be prevented? What are the most effective strategies? What are the most common strategies?
Yes
Environmental design - restricted access to cash and for non-employeers
Administrative control - controlling movements of organization, more people on duty in retail, and better way of opening and closing businesses
Criminal Intent
Theft is primary motive, and may involve weapons (e.g. robbery)
Accounts for > 80% of workplace homicides
Customer/client
Offender is a customer or client and attacks victim (e.g. mental health facility, nurse, prison guard)
Accounts for about 3-4% of workplace homicides
Worker on worker
Former or present employee attacks
Accounts for about 8% of workplace homicides
Personal relationship
Domestic violence related
Accounts for about 5-6% of workplace homicides
What do we know about the characteristics of school shooters? Give specific evidence from course materials. Are school shootings prevalent?
The deadliest shootings are from white men
Lots of black victims here
95% of shooters are male
12-18 year offenders in elementary and secondary school shootings
Likely older than 25 in college shootings
The likelhood of a school shooting is low
How much violence occurs at school? How do we know? Describe at least two specific measures of school violence discussed in the text and give examples.
29 per 1,000 students
47% reported to law enforcement
NCES conducts research
1 in 5 reported bullying
8% had been in a fight
What are some of the risk factors for school violence?
Students not going to school
More likely to drop out of school
Bad habits such as alcohol and drugs
Lower self-esteem
Higher suicide risk
How common is teacher victimization?
6% of teachers reported being threatened in 2020-2021
More common among female teachers in public schools
School violence - control theory
A stronger connection to peers and academics means more to lose if you engage in bad behaviors and violence
School violence - school climate theory
Rules and guidelines
Bad school climate foster bad behaviors
Sometimes you just need to listen to the kids
School violence - social disorganization theory
Neighborhood problems could spread to school
Bad community characteristics
Poverty
Family disruption
Weak local social organization
School prevention programs - physical surveillance
Weapons deterrence
Campus officers
Armed security personnel
School prevention programs - zero tolerance policies
School policies
School uniforms
Expelling
What about college students? Do they have higher rates of violent victimization compared to their non-college peers? Are there any exceptions?
Less incidents in college compared to younger ages
Most things happen off campus so most likely non-college peers have a higher rate of victimization
What is a gang? Describe the self-nomination technique in studying gang membership and discuss its strengths and limitations.
“A street gang is any durable, street-oriented youth group whose involvement in illegal activity is part of its group identity”
In what kind of place are gangs most likely to be present?