The Consequence of Social Individualization on Gun Ownership

• In Event: 477 - Section on Crime, Law, and Deviance Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 15. Culture, Media, and Socialization 1

Abstract

Many studies have pointed out that Americans have been withdrawing from civic associational life and becoming more socially disconnected from others over the past several decades. What are some of the consequences? This paper argues that it had some consequence in gun ownership that has been also declining. I argue that the social individualization process has a decreasing effect on the use of guns as a leisurely activity because gun hobby groups are being weakened like other civic associations. On the other hand, I argue that gun ownership for self-defense is declining slower than gun as a hobby because the social individualization process has increased smaller households and more disconnected individuals who are more likely to be more concerned about their physical security.

Author

• Jaesok Son, NORC-University of Chicago