ABSTRACT
Identification dilemmas surround judicial definitions of violence as well. This chapter introduces the Wasserman editorial cartoon that reminds readers of one such enigma. The same code of law that forbids one citizen to take the life of another may simultaneously permit state-sanctioned capital punishment. Social audiences, be they juries, media users, crime witnesses, etc., can differentially assess identical acts of violence. These differences often are related to the social and psychological profiles of the perpetrators. A perpetrator’s social characteristics prove so important to the identification process because such qualities establish the perpetrator’s in-group or out-group status. Specific characteristics of violence itself can influence the identification process. Certain types of acts are more likely than others to be viewed as deviant violence. Physical violence, for example, is more likely than nonphysical violence to be labeled as deviant. A victim’s attributes can influence the social audience as they evaluate violence.
