Abstract

Efforts toexplain regional variations in rates of violent crime have frequently cited the southern subculture of violence thesis. HCYWeVer, the evidence for the existence of such a subculture has been inconclusive. This study investigates regional differences in the levels and determinants of support for interpersonal violence under defensive or retaliatory circumstances. Using datafrom the1983 General Social Survey, this research finds that native southerners are disproportionately inclined to condone defensive or retaliatory forms of violence. There is evidence that the public religious culture of the South may play a significant role in legitimizing these types of violence. Some results are consistent with arguments that interregional migration and cohort substitution are attenuating regional differences in views regarding violence. Several directions forfuture research on violent attitudes are discussed. A substantial body of research shows that the South leads the nation in per capita homicides, certain other violent crimes, and firearms ownership (see Huff-Corzine, Corzine & Moore 1986). Evidence suggests that this pattern has persisted throughout most of the twentieth century and perhaps even in previous centuries (Brearley1932; Porterfield 1949; Redfield 1880). To account for these observed relationships between region and violent behavior, some researchers have suggested that regional cultural norms may predispose southerners to approve of violence and to engage in violent activities. However, the literature on region and violence harbors considerable confusion over (1)what this southern subculture argument really implies, and (2)how to construct an appropriate empirical test of its core arguments. On the one hand, because research on crime rates necessarily uses aggregate data, it is virtually impossible to link region, socialization processes, individual values, • TM Iluthorthanks Mllrk Reed,. DIl"en Sherkllt, Ilndtwo Ilnonymous reviewers for helpful comments on Iln earlier 'Persian of this Ilrticle. TM llSSistllnce of Elizilbeth Wing in the prepllrlltion of the tables is elso grlltefully Ilcknowledged. Dlltllfor this study were matU