The Southern Culture of Violence and Immigration Effects

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Research has continually noted that the southern region contributes the most to America’s high violent crime rate. Several theoretical perspectives, including the Southern Culture of Violence Thesis (SCVT), have constructed sound models—citing both structural and sociocultural factors—to help explain this trend. Missing in these analyses is the discussion of the role of immigration as a potential factor which may have a buffering effect leading to a decrease in the violent crime rate. This study provides an initial evaluation of the impact of immigration on the violent crime rate by comparing the effect of immigration on the southern versus the northern region in America. By drawing from the Southern Culture of Violence and immigration literature, I hypothesize that immigration will provide a protective effect influencing a decrease in the violent crime rate in the south. Using cross sectional data for the National Neighborhood Study, findings support this hypothesis by showing the negative impact of immigration on violence in the south. Future research should consider the role that immigrants play on the change (or reinforcement) of cultural norms associated with violence at both the individual and community levels. More longitudinal studies could better evaluate this relationship.

Author

• James Bernard Pratt, Jr., University of California, Irvine