Xenophobic Violent Offenses. A Situational Analysis

Abstract

We used a situational approach to analyze violent xenophobic offenses against ethnic, political, and social minorities using interviews with male German offenders who had been arrested. Three main results were found. First, we found that two different situational configurations precede offenses. One is characterized by a positive mood, drinking alcohol, being together with friends, and listening music, while the other could described by a negative mood, frustrating experiences, and being alone.

Secondly, a perceived provocation is the most common imminent stimulus for xenophobic aggressive behavior. However, the perceived provocation was often actually itself provoked by the previous behavior of the offenders, who exhibit a high degree of readiness to use aggressive behavior in general. We describe three different imminent stimuli. The third finding concerned the motives on which xenophobic aggressive behavior is based. The presentation of power, dominance, and toughness is the most frequent motive for xenophobic aggressive behavior.