Why is violent crime so common in the Americas?

Violent crimes, including murders, rapes, and assaults are substantially higher in the Americas than other regions of the world. This study investigated the role of single parenthood ratios in accounting for this regional variation in violent crime of 39 countries using INTERPOL data. It pitted the prediction of parental investment (calling for a delayed relationship between single parenthood and crime) against a mating aggression hypothesis that predicted a contemporaneous effect. Regression analyses found that current single parenthood ratios were strongly and consistently predictive of violent crimes whereas single parenthood ratios 18 years earlier were not and this conclusion remained following controls for income inequality and the population sex ratio. The results indicate that the regional difference in violent crime is best explained in terms of mating competition rather than reduced parental investment. Aggr. Behav. 32:1–9, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Personality and Religious Maturity

A sample of 226 students attending seminaries, theological colleges, and bible schools completed Newton Malony’s Religious Status Inventory (as a measure of religious maturity) alongside the short-form Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. The data demonstrated some ways in which stable toughminded extraverts projected higher levels of religious maturity according to some of Malony’s criteria.     

Unnecessary Supplement

Studies in Philosophy and Education -     

Demographics, affect, and adolescents' health behaviors.

Considerable research has established that a relationship exists between demographics, emotions, and physical health complaints. Much less is known about the association between demographics, affect, and actual health behaviors, particularly in youngsters. Accordingly, this paper presents findings on the relationship between affect, demographics, and health-related lifestyle among 139 public high school students, a population generally believed to be at high risk for the development of detrimental health habits. Covariation between affect, health practices, and demographics was examined using stepwise multiple regression analyses which revealed distinctive demographic and affective correlates of different health behaviors. The implications of these results are discussed and directions for future research are noted.     

Petitioning: Dress Congruence Versus Belief Congruence1

“Hip” and “straight” Es asked 240 passersby, who were also classified as “hip” or “straight”, to sign a petition. Each E received more signatures from S s of like dress only when the petition was neutral. There were no significant differences between the E s or S s for the two politically stronger petitions. It is proposed that dress congruence will override belief congruence only when the beliefs involved are of little significance to the S.