Title: Cultural Influence On Crime | Criminal Defense Attorney | Psychology of Law And Criminal Behavior
Headings: Cultural Influence On Crime
Cultural Influence On Crime
Heat Hypothesis
Southern Culture of Violence Theory
Cross-National Comparisons: The IAT
Individualism & Collectivism | America & Japan
Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s Leading Criminal Defense Attorney
Author: Kenneth Padowitz, P.A.

Content: Variations between the type of crime committed, as well as how it is committed will also be noted as it relates to the topic. Beginning with an analysis of a particular subculture within the United States, which will then lead to cross-national comparisons, the goal of this article is to illustrate how crime is a complicated phenomenon; one theory is not sufficient, rather it takes a multitude of concepts to aid in the determination of the roots of criminal activity. Heat Hypothesis
Within the United States, the southern region has been notorious for its notably higher rates of violent criminal behavior, specifically lethal violence, when compared with the rest of the country. The heat hypothesis is a theoretical explanation, which proposes uncomfortably warm temperatures are the reason for the elevated violent crime rates in the south. Although there are many studies which have been able to demonstrate an increased propensity for violence in uncomfortably hot conditions in the United States, the same is not true across all cultures, and is unable to explain why violent crime rates within the southern United States are still often higher than other countries exposed to similar temperatures. Although heat may be a factor, claiming human behaviors to be solely due to high temperature may be a bit too simplistic. Southern Culture of Violence Theory
Another theory that has gained acceptance over the years attributes the violence to a unique subculture of honor that originated with the Scots-Irish migrants in the eighteenth century, when they first arrived in the United States. The southern culture of violence theory suggests today’s increased rates of violent crime in the southern United States is a byproduct of the Celtic cultural values that these migrants brought with them, which has been passed down from generation to generation for hundreds of years. These individuals socially fit into patriarchal systems, which clearly outlined the roles men and women were supposed to follow.