| In this paper, I utilize Agnew's General Strain Theory (GST) to understand the intervening processes between race and violence. Although many have examined the relationship between race and violence, few have offered explanations for racial disparities in the perpetration of violence. Thus, there is a need to focus on the causal mechanisms underlying the race-violence relationship. Because of its breadth and focus on negative relations and negative emotions, GST is well suited for understanding violence. In this paper, I expand the application of Agnew's GST and expand our understanding of the race-violence relationship. I conducted analyses on the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) which includes detailed interviews with a nationally representative sample of 6,504 students in grades 7-12. 1 examined the relationship between negative experiences, negative emotions, and violence while also examining factors that may condition this relationship. In general African-Americans are more likely to engage in fighting behaviors, but not weapon related violence. The same negative experiences affect violent behaviors for both African-Americans and Non-Hispanic whites, and both are conditioned by problem solving skills. However, the importance of negative emotions appears to differ by race. Implications for the race-violence relationship and for GST are discussed. |
Updated 05/20/2006