wilson and Daly (1985)

Question 1

whats the aim?

Answer 1

to examine gender and age patterns in crimes of violence

Question 2

Whats the method?

Answer 2

Analysis of data from police crime records at one point in time (snap-shot)

Question 3

Whats the procedure?

Answer 3

the study reviewed the records of homicidal crimes in Detroit in 1972.

Age and sex of perpetrators and victims were analysed.

The data were categorised into various
types of homicidal crimes as seen in the tables below.

Question 4

whats the total homicide rates due to social conflict?

Answer 4

Social conflict 256- males 83- females

Question 5

whats the total homicide rates due to crime specific

Answer 5

161- males 7- females

Question 6

whats the total homicide rates due to unknown>?

Answer 6

5 males

0 females

Question 7

whats the total homicide rates of all closed cases ?

Answer 7

422 males

90 females

Question 8

where was the study done?

Answer 8

Detroit (1972)

Question 9

how many offenders committed crimes due to retaliation as a form of social conflict (offender and victim not related)?

Answer 9

males - 84

females- 11

Question 10

how many offenders committed crimes due to showing off as a form of social conflict (offender and victim not related)?

Answer 10

males -26

females-3

Question 11

how many offenders committed crimes due to jealousy as a form of social conflict (offender and victim not related)?

Answer 11

males -25

females-9

Question 12

how many offenders committed crimes due to buissness as a form of social conflict (offender and victim not related)?

Answer 12

males -11

females-2

Question 13

how many offenders committed crimes due to family quarrels as a form of social conflict (offender and victim not related)?

Answer 13

males -5

females-0

Question 14

how many offenders committed crimes due to unknown/ miscellaneous as a form of social conflict (offender and victim not related)?

Answer 14

males -32

females-4

Question 15

how many offenders committed crimes in total as a form of social conflict (offender and victim not related)?

Answer 15

183 males

29 females

Question 16

What were the conclusions?

Answer 16

Wilson and Daly argue that the fact that most homicides concerned social conflict

(retaliation, showing off, jealousy) and that most perpetrators and most victims were

young unmarried males could be explained by status competition.

Wilson and Daly conclude, therefore, that their findings support an evolutionary

explanation for higher levels of crime in males than females.