Reflexive Retaliation for Violent Victimization: The Effect of Social Distance on Weapon Lethality

During the course of being victimized, why do people sometimes fight back with their fists; in other cases, with a knife or blunt object; and at other times, with a firearm? One theory is that the weapons involved in self-defense, also known as reflexive retaliation, become less lethal as offenders and victims become more intimate and alike culturally. Using National Crime Victimization Survey data, we test hypotheses derived from this theory and primarily find support. This article concludes by discussing implications for future work.

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Victim Injury and Social Distance: A National Test of a General Principle of Conflict

Violence and Victims ◽

10.1891/0886-6708.vv-d-15-00023 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 726-750 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Callie Marie Rennison ◽

Scott Jacques ◽

Andrea Allen

Keyword(s):

Social Distance ◽

General Principle ◽

Additional Research ◽

National Crime Victimization Survey ◽

Crime Victimization ◽

Victimization Survey ◽

Pure Sociology ◽

Violent Offenses ◽

National Test

Our inquiry focuses on why some violent offenses but not others result in injury to the victim. Building on existing theory nested in the paradigm of pure sociology, we propose and test a general principle of conflict: Victim injury varies directly with social distance. This principle predicts that offenders are more likely to harm victims with whom they are less well acquainted and less similar culturally. We test three hypotheses derived from this principle with data from the National Crime Victimization Survey and find little support for the theory. Rather, findings suggest exactly the opposite of that predicted: As social distance between offender and victim increases, the odds of victim injury decreases. Recommendations of additional research are made.

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The Role of Offender Alcohol Use in Rape Attacks: An Analysis of National Crime Victimization Survey Data

Current Perspectives on Sex Crimes Current perspectives on sex crimes ◽

10.4135/9781452229454.n19 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 219-232

Author(s):

Leanne R. Brecklin ◽

Sarah E. Ullman

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Survey Data ◽

National Crime Victimization Survey ◽

Crime Victimization ◽

Victimization Survey

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Violent Victimization Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Populations in the United States: Findings From the National Crime Victimization Survey, 2017–2018

American Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2105/ajph.2020.306017 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. e1-e9

Author(s):

Annah K. Bender ◽

Janet L. Lauritsen

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

The United States ◽

National Crime Victimization Survey ◽

Violent Victimization ◽

Crime Victimization ◽

Victimization Survey ◽

Males And Females ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

And Bisexual ◽

Victimization Rates

Objectives. To estimate US nonlethal violent victimization rates for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) males and females aged 16 years and older and to compare disparities among LGB and straight males and females, controlling for other correlates of victimization. Methods. We used data from the 2017 and 2018 National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) to provide nationally representative rates of various forms of violent victimization for self-identified LGB and straight persons. Multivariable models assessed the risk for violence associated with LGB status. Results. Total violence rates were 2 to 9 times higher among LGB persons compared with heterosexuals. For some forms of violence (e.g., rape and sexual assault, violence with serious injuries, and multiple offender violence) there were notably high disparities between bisexuals and heterosexuals. With adjustment for covariates, LGB orientation was associated with odds ratios nearly 2 to 4 times those of heterosexuals. Conclusions. This is one of the first known uses of NCVS data to estimate LGB victimization, revealing substantially higher rates of violence directed at LGB individuals. Public Health Implications. Sexual orientation and gender identity questions in federal surveys such as the NCVS enable monitoring of violent victimization rates and should continue. Collecting these data can help researchers understand victimization risk and guide appropriate resources toward victim services, especially important given the high violent crime levels experienced by LGB individuals. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print December 22, 2020: e1–e9. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.306017 )

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