Street Codes as Formula Stories
How Inmates Recount Violence
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2365351 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Fiona Brookman (0000-0002-1016-7088, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, Wales, United Kingdom), H Copes (0000-0001-8029-1837, University of Alabama at Birmingham, corresponding author), Andy Hochstetler (0000-0003-2158-2620, Iowa State University, Ames) |
| Year | 2011 |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 397-424 |
| Publication date | 2011-08-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Contemporary Ethnography (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0891-2416 • E-ISSN: 1552-5414 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/0891241611408307 |
| OpenAlex | W2132602469 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 46 |
| References cited | 54 |
Recent developments in the study of narratives suggest that people can construct identity by referencing acculturated stories (i.e., formula stories) and often do so when explaining untoward behavior. Formula stories connect one's personal identity with generally accepted subcultural identities and the narratives associated with them. In light of this, it becomes clear that cultural codes (e.g., the code of the streets) provide structured storylines. Using data from semistructured interviews with 118 violent inmates incarcerated in the United Kingdom, this study examines how they use the code of the street when describing specific violent events. The authors find that violent inmates portray themselves as respectable by situating their past violence within the prescripts of the code; however, the inmates' narratives are not always consistent or drawn from singular formula stories. In fact, many participants offered various storylines and interpretations when describing violent events. We conclude that future theoretical development should aim to integrate perspectives focused on street codes, individual identity, and other acculturated factors and that understanding codes as narrative forms is essential
Aesthetics · Art · Code (set theory · Construct (python library · Identity (music · Linguistics · Narrative · Sociology · Computer Science · Crime Patterns and Interventions · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology
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Techniques of legitimation
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| Unique citing works | 46 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 3,54 |
| Citation span | 2013 - 2026 (14) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 46 |