Sociology of Violence Section W02 Spring Semester 2024 CO
Answer the following questions. Your answers can be brief but they should be substantive. Make sure your response is at least 250 words in length, cites references from the text and outside sources if necessary, and follows the APA/ASA style format.
1. Give a brief definition of each of the SIX major Sociological victim/perpetrator theories outlined in Chapter 2 (see pages 48-60 in the textbook).
2. Match each of the following examples to one of these theories.
Example 1: A famous artist is about to enter his local neighborhood pizzeria for dinner. “Someone” walking near him on the sidewalk shoots him four times at close range with a .38-caliber revolver and continues to walk away at a brisk pace. The artist, bleeding profusely, is rushed to the hospital but died en route.
Example 2: A group of robbers have targeted Asian restaurants across the metro Atlanta area. Seven locations across three counties have been hit, and police say in at least two of the cases, the robbers pistol-whipped female employees. Police said in every one of these cases, the robberies happened at closing time.
Example 3: A man fatally shot his wife, five young children and himself Tuesday after he faxed a note to a TV station claiming the couple had just been fired from their hospital jobs and together planned the killings as an escape for the whole family. The station called police after receiving the fax, and a police dispatch center also received a call from a man who stated, “I just returned home and my whole family’s been shot.”
Example 4: Five people were shot and killed by a “disgruntled” former employee at a workplace near Orlando, Florida, this morning, three years after the suspect was involved in another workplace violence incident there, authorities said. The suspect shot and killed himself after shooting his former co-workers this morning at Fiamma, which is part of an Italian company that manufactures awnings and accessories for RVs, authorities said. Most victims were shot in the head and some were shot multiple times, according to Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings.
Example 5: The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) has a detailed and uniform organizational structure, with territory divided into five regions, each run by a “general.” Four alleged ABT generals were charged with conspiracy to participate in the racketeering activities of the ABT, among other charges. The second superseding indictment charges the fifth general with conspiracy to participate in the racketeering activities of the ABT, among other charges. In total, the second superseding indictment charges 33 alleged members of the ABT with conspiracy to participate in the racketeering activities of the ABT. Alleged members of the ABT are also charged with involvement in three murders, multiple attempted murders, kidnappings, assaults and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.
3. Choose one theory with the example you associate with it and use that theory to try to come up with an intervention that would reduce those types of incidents from occurring. (NOTE: Theory should be used in applied settings to help reduce violent behavior/actions. If we understand the “causes,” we can better develop effective interventions).
