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Attitudes Toward the Right to Kill in Latin American Culture

Laboratorio de Ciencias Sociales, Caracas, Venezuela

Alberto Camardiel

Laboratorio de Ciencias Sociales, Caracas, Venezuela

Olga Avila

Laboratorio de Ciencias Sociales, Caracas, Venezuela

Most Latin American countries have no death penalty, but there is a general acceptance of individuals’ or communities’ right to kill under certain circumstances. This right is not stipulated in any law but it is present in the culture of these societies. To investigate it, a random sample study was carried out in seven Latin American cities. The general results reveal support for the right to kill to defend one’s family, but the right to kill to defend one’s property was lower. Killing someone who has raped a daughter was positive for all the Latin American cities, although killing an individual who attacks the community receives moderate support. The results for "social purge" killings are lower than the previous. The results are analyzed and presented by cities and social variables and show that there is a cultural pattern in which social norms are not always congruent with law.

Key Words: violence • homicides • lynching • culture • Latin America

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