Character Contests and Violent Criminal Conduct
A Critique
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2276382 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Lonnie Athens (0000-0001-8183-7491, Georgetown University Law Center, corresponding author) |
| Year | 1985 |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 419-431 |
| Publication date | 1985-09-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Sociological Quarterly (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0038-0253 • E-ISSN: 1533-8525 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1533-8525.1985.tb00236.x |
| OpenAlex | W2005638873 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 7 |
| References cited | 20 |
Goffman's theory of violent criminal behavior, which is based upon the complementary notions of "character contest" and "stake in conventional institutions," is relatively unique in that it makes problematic both the violent criminal act and actor. However, the explanation Goffman's work provides is inadequate for three major reasons. First, mutual consent among the conflicting parties to use violence to settle their dispute rarely occurs in violent criminal acts. Secondly, the meanings with which most violent criminal acts are imbued are different from that of a character contest. Finally, violent people cannot be distinguished from non-violent ones merely on the basis of whether or not they have a stake in conformity. Thus, a more accurate and adequate theory of violent criminal behavior which takes into account both the nature of the violent criminal act and actor is needed. The outlines of such a theory are briefly described
Character (mathematics) · Criminology · Political science · Sociology · Violent crime · Law in Society and Culture · Mathematics · Psychology
The Discovery of Grounded Theory
An Interactionist Approach to Aggression
Social Disorganization and Stake in Conformity
Interaction Ritual
The Discovery of Grounded Theory
Impression management theory and social psychological research
Frame Analysis Reconsidered
Killing for Profit
Rethinking criminology
Situational Factors in Disputes Leading to Criminal Violence
Honor, Normative Ambiguity and Gang Violence
Killing for Profit
Violent Criminal Acts and Actors
Criminal Homicide as a Situated Transaction
Violent Crime
The Self and the Violent Criminal Act
Violent Criminal Acts and Actors
Violent Behavior in Interpersonal Relationships
| Unique citing works | 7 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,18 |
| Citation span | 1987 - 2017 (31) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 7 |