External Restraint Theory

1449 Words3 Pages

Imagine yourself going out to a neighborhood party trying to relax after a stressful week. You might want to socialize, drink, or watch television. Now try to think about the penalties that can occur when the party gets out of control such as loud outbursts, fighting, and physical behavior. Depending on the setting of the party, there could be a possible chance of violence happening. In this case, the violent actions can result to homicides, shootings, and suicides. Homicides can vary based on age, gender, race, and methods of killing the victim. Shootings are quick reactions to dealing with victim. Suicides result to choosing to kill one’s life. Overall, there are different reasons to why individuals feel the need to kill someone else. It …show more content…

The theory discusses that people use their frustration and anger to kill to eliminate their feelings. Also, individuals use their frustration and anger to feel the need and desire to kill. Thio, Taylor, and Schwartz state that “individuals, who experience intense frustration are lead toward suicides, where individuals that experience just frustration lean towards homicides” (Thio et al, 2013, p. 78). Some people might feel that homicides and suicides are the same because they both deal with frustration. Unfortunately, homicides are more geared towards voluntary actions, while suicides are acts that are intentionally towards one’s death. The external restraint theory mentions that “when one experiences intense frustration they are likely to choose “self-directed aggression” which is suicides, rather than one who experiences “weak external restraint” and choose “other-directed aggression” (homicide) in which experience “strong restraint” (Thio et al, 2013, p. 78). Most individuals act a certain way whether it is out of anger, frustration, behavior issues, or to lessen problems. Other individuals tend to kill to eliminate their personal problems and release stress towards others. Some personal problems can include; financial problems, physical or emotional abuse, or long-term problems. When frustration is taking place, most individuals feel that once they kill, that …show more content…

The subculture of violence theory revolves around individuals using violent acts in need of survival. In this theory, people kill because one was living their lifestyle through violent acts as normal behavior. According to Thio, Taylor, and Schwartz they mention, “violent behavior is more effective than nonpoor families’ (Thio et al, 2013, p. 79). Most poor neighborhoods have higher chances of committing crimes, especially, knowing that the behavior of the actions is reflected towards survival. These behaviors can be reflected on the family, peers, and community aspects. Living in poor neighborhoods, can be scary when not knowing what type of violent act or individuals that live around one. For example; some individuals might be influenced with gangs or fall into the wrong crowd. Individuals, who choose violence, are influenced by the experience from these gang groups, peers, parents, or normal neighborhood behaviors. These individuals live through the violence acts to kill because this is the type of lifestyle they are living in. I believe that people are violent because they believe killing is an escape to get away from issues and own problems. Also, people might turn to killing because it’s the main solution for survival. For example; if one is being harassed, one might feel that violence could to a key factor to protect themselves in this type of

Open Document