Murder can spread like infectious disease

Murder is an easily transmitted behavior from one person to another and can spread like flu, which is the result of a recent study by scientists from Michigan State University (USA).

In conjunction with local health officials, the team used a number of methods to monitor the spread of the epidemic in general and apply them to analyzes of homicides in Newark, NJ, in About 26 years from 1982 to 2008. They found that like normal epidemics, neighbors are always more vulnerable than others. In addition, while the rich immigrant community can resist the spread of this offense, poor areas are vulnerable.

"The idea is violent violence ," said April Zeoli, a criminal justice researcher at Michigan State University. Zeoli speculates that living in an area with a high crime rate of murder causes people to feel fear and insecurity all the time and are more likely to resort to violence as a defensive measure. 'For example, they tend to prepare their own weapons and are ready to use force when they feel unsafe,' Zeoli said.

The mechanism of transmission of murder behavior is similar
as an infectious disease. (Photo: Shutterstock)

The origin of crime is one of the most discussed questions but at the same time the most elusive. Previous studies have often linked murder rates to dozens of factors, from gun ownership to the number of offenses committed by each offender. However, until recently, new scientists applied the principle of infectious disease to understand exactly how to spread crime.

In their study, Zeoli and his colleagues paid special attention to the Newark area with the number of homicides in 26 years being 3.5 to 5 times higher than the national average. At the beginning of the study, the number of homicide cases skyrocketed in central Newark, but some time later, this amount weakened and in turn the southern and western areas of the city increased. This is also the model of infectious disease, appearing in certain areas and gradually spreading to the neighborhood.

Interestingly, the 'killer epidemic' does not spread to the northern and eastern parts of the city - a region with more diverse cultural communities than other parts of the city, where there are coins. more cohesive direction.

Moreover, the poor residential area is very vulnerable if there is a wave of killing. Poverty increases susceptibility because people do not have jobs or precarious jobs, have few opportunities to be exposed to good education - factors that contribute to repelling crime. In the long run, the level of 'infection' of homicide is completely manageable if those variables are addressed.

The findings suggest that authorities can take 'vaccination' measures by addressing the potential risks of such dangerous behavior, Zeoli said.

This study will be detailed in the upcoming issue of Justice Justice Justice magazine.

Reference: Livescience