Re: Age and violence stats
Harvey Newstrom (harv@gate.net)
Tue, 30 Jun 1998 19:23:46 -0400
> >>> Max More <more@extropy.org> 30/June/1998 03:47pm >>>
> >I believe that older people tend to commit fewer violent crimes (and not
> >just those who are in hospital beds). If true, this might be turned into a
> >cultural-effects argument in favor of extending our lifespans. If violent
> >crime primarily comes from youngsters, the more older people there are
> >and the lower the birth rate, the lower the level of violent crime that we
> >should expect.
>
> Your belief is bolstered by fact. I remember reading a SA article several
> years ago that linked the number of teenagers (as a percentage of
> population) with the rise and fall in the incidence of violent crime in the
> US. Unfortunately, I don't remember which issue it was in; you could try
> a search on their web-site though.
To establish the relationship between age and violence, one would need
to eliminate other age-related factors. I believe that wealth increases
with age. I believe that a lack of money is the leading cause of
violence. Persons with money resort to violence less often to obtain
what they need or desire.
Before promoting advanced age as a PR point, consider the negative PR
that advanced age may bring to mind.
--
Harvey Newstrom (harv@gate.net)