Honor Culture as an Explanation for School Violence
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 9729109 |
|---|---|
| Authors | J Ulises Reveles (0000-0002-9296-3001, The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY), Baltimore, MD, USA, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 58 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 385-403 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Education and Urban Society (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0013-1245 • E-ISSN: 1552-3535 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/00131245251392091 |
| OpenAlex | W4416675616 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 8 |
School violence remains a pressing concern in the United States, with incidents ranging from physical altercations to school shootings. This paper explores how sociocultural norms—specifically a “culture of honor,” which emphasizes defending one’s reputation through retaliation—contribute to youth aggression. Drawing on empirical literature and regional data, the study highlights how honor culture correlates with elevated rates of weapon carrying and violence in certain U.S. regions. To address these patterns, the paper examines interventions that foster communal and interdependent values, including the creation of green spaces, gardening programs, peer mediation, and extracurricular engagement. Special attention is given to after-school programs supported by 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) grants. An autoethnographic case study from Huguenot High School in Richmond, Virginia, illustrates how such interventions can reduce violence and promote cultural transformation. The paper concludes with recommendations for incorporating culturally responsive, community-based strategies into school safety efforts
Ethnography · Honor · Interdependence · Poison control · Psychological intervention · Reputation · Sociocultural evolution · Suicide prevention · Educator Training and Historical Pedagogy · Peace and Human Rights Education · Service-Learning and Community Engagement
Citywide cluster randomized trial to restore blighted vacant land and its effects on violence, crime, and fear
A Meta‐Analysis of After‐School Programs That Seek to Promote Personal and Social Skills in Children and Adolescents
Retaliatory attitudes as mediator of exposure to violence and firearm aggression among youth
Implications of culture of honor theory and research for practitioners and prevention researchers
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |