Citation

Parker RN. Homicide Stud. 1998; 2(1): 6-30.

Affiliation

University of California, Riverside

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1088767998002001002

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The study of homicide in North America has been limited by its focus on U.S. data and cross-sectional analyses, as well as a lack of consideration of alcohol in homicide causation. European research has been more dynamic, dealing extensively with the alcohol and violence relationship, but these studies also have limited generalizability. A cross-national dynamic analysis of homicide victimization by gender is reported here as an extension and replication of Gartner's theoretical model of homicide, with alcohol-related concepts integrated into this model. Results based on the analysis of 17 nationstates for the period 1950-1980 provide evidence that two aspects of alcohol-related behavior, consumption rates and the drinking culture, produce interaction effects with divorce rates that are strongly predictive of homicide victimization. However, gender differences are in the nature of these interactions. The importance of these results for homicide causation and violence prevention policy are discussed.