ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on cultural mechanisms by which hate violence emerges. Hate crimes are culturally enacted forms of violence that incite fear and intimidation in individuals and communities. Hate crimes that fit the critical criminology frame—that is,—are acts of violence enacted on individuals based upon power differentials. Prior research has identified three main motivations for hate crimes: thrill-seeking, reaction, and mission. Violent acts of hate can be motivated by a desire to benefit the community. In these instances, the perpetrator is engaging in violence they feel will ultimately make the place in which they live better for themselves and others. In many hate crime incidents, the goal of the violence is entertainment or recreation. This perhaps mirrors most closely the common understanding of hate crime violence. Hate crimes are not merely acts of deviance. They are acts of violence used to maintain social order and reproduce the social hierarchies at hand.
