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The prevalence of violent crime in North America, including Canada, can be attributed to a deadly combination of cultural values, economic conditions, and biological and environmental factors. These factors are part of Bronfenbrenners Ecological Systems Theory, which explains how the interaction of different parts of an individuals life can shape and form who they are and how they act (text p 7). Violent crime, specifically homicide, suicide and accidental death by a gun, are more prevalent among young men between the ages of 15 and 35, than by older men or women of any age (text p. 483 - 484). The combination of Bronfenbrenners micro system (family, peer group, etc. ), exo system (community, education, etc. ) and perhaps most of all the macro system (cultural values, economics, etc. ) can explain why young men are more susceptible to commit and be a victim of violent crime (text p. 483). Young men are usually brought up in a North American home believing they have to prove themselves as a man. The cultural idea of what a man should be includes strong, dependable, a protector for the family, etc.
This pressure leads many young men to think they need to use their aggressiveness to prove they are a man. This could include drive by shootings on rival gangs, fist fights with another young man who resembles an enemy to prove their worthiness of the title. These pressures inhibit young men from developing self-restraint, self-respect, and respect for others opinions and beliefs (text p. 486). This pressure of the macro system on the micro system explains the never-ending cycle. One man raised by parents influenced by cultural norms, to raise their son to fit the socially constructed form of a man.
Then the boy grows up to raise his son (s) in the same socially constructed way, creating violent young men in every generation. One of the more prominent concerns today is the debate around gun control and its relatedness to violent crime. By comparing Canadian and American statistics the different effects of the micro system (family) and exo system (community) can be seen. In the United States is more accepted by the family, community, and government for civilians to posses a gun for personal and property protection. The Canadian laws prevent citizens from owning handguns unless they belong to a gun club, or are authorized by the government to carry a gun for protection when adequate police protection is unavailable (CDIC). These differing attitudes towards gun control explains why there are one million approved registered handguns in Canada, and 77 million registered handguns in the United States (CDIC).
In the CDIC report a study conducted by Kellmen was cited and revealed that homicide within the family was 2. 7 times more likely in homes where firearms were present than in homes without firearms. Another finding supporting reduced access reported that in the United States the murder rate with handguns is 15 times than the Canadian rate, which indicates that restricted access to handguns is effective in preventing firearm related death (CDIC). This evidence shows societies with a more acceptable approach to handgun ownership is related to higher violent crime including homicide and suicide. Nothing exists in isolation. Bronfenbrenners Ecological Systems Theory shows that people are affected by the interaction between their micro system (family), meso sytem, exo system (community) and macros system (cultural values, economics, etc. ). These interactions can lead people to behave in particular ways to suit their environments.
In some cases people, young men in particular, use violent crime to solve problems, show their power or to prove they are a man. These young men often use guns to prove their point; this leads to more homicides, suicides and gun related accidents resulting in death.
Free research essays on topics related to: cultural values, socially constructed, young men, gun control, violent crime
Research essay sample on Violent Crime Socially Constructed