Hate Crimes
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Analicia Rangel-Garcia
Troung / Fall 2009
Writing 101
30 September 2009
Profile of Research Community Assignment: Hate Crime
Hate crimes are any acts of violence towards people, property, or organizations because
of the groups they belong to or have relations with. Hate crimes can range from racial slurs to
murder. This violent outrage and total disrespect for a people of a different group, race, religion,
or sexual preference has been going on for much too long, and why it continues to occur is
essential in determining a solution to stop these crimes from happening to innocent victims.
The study of hate crimes is categorized within both Personality and Social Psychology in
relation with cultural diversity psychology, due to the high correlation between hate crimes
towards ethnic minorities. Hate crimes also are categorized within Criminal Psychology in
addition to Forensic Psychology. Hate crimes have been going on for quite a while now, but it
wasn’t until earlier in the decade that they were being studied. The federal government decided
to begin collecting data on hate crimes, focusing on questions of by whom, how many, and the
types of hate crimes that are being committed. Due to the fact that hate crime has not been
covered and studied for very long, psychological studies are just rising to the surface as well. In
the United States, hate crimes towards different groups of society occur every day. Hate crimes
usually stem from negative stereotypes of a particular group whose ways of living are not in
correlation with the person(s) who commit the hate crime. Some of the main reasons why hate
crimes occur are due to the differences between race, gender, ethnicity, religion, and sexual
preference.
Relevant questions pertaining to hate crimes include reasons as to why hate crimes occur,
who the usual victims are, where this hate and prejudice stems from, and who the most common
hate motivated groups are, and how often they occur. Different questions will stem from
different areas and subjects relating to the study of hate crime in the United States. Many people
do not have the knowledge that hate crimes are actually highly related to the field of Psychology.
They are in relation with the field of psychology because the act of hate crimes derives from
different behaviors of an individual(s), which ultimately leads to why this behavior occurs and
how it relates to the personality of the individual or individuals.
Primary publications in regards to journals include the Journal of Personality and Social
Psychology, Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, American Behavioral Scientist,
and the Journal of Interpersonal Violence. The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
publishes original papers that are related to all areas of personality and social psychology. In
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addition, the journal addresses the influence of cognition in combination with social phenomena
such as communication, prejudice, social development, and cultural trends. Cultural Diversity
and Ethnic Minority Psychology focuses on social political forces involving racial and ethnic
minorities. American Behavioral Scientist offers analysis in behavioral sciences, politics,
education, economics, and ethnic and racial studies, terrorism, and public service. The journal
stimulates creativity as well as controversy which challenges us as thinkers in this ever-changing
world. The Journal of Interpersonal Violence is concerned with the study and treatment of
victims of both sexual and physical violence.
Important associations in connection with the hate crime include the Southern Poverty
Law Center Intelligence Project, Tolerance.org, and Hate Crimes Research Network. The
Southern Poverty Law Center Intelligence Project dedicated their time in monitoring hate
crimes/groups and extremist activity within the United States. Tolerance.org is in connection
with the Poverty Law Center Intelligence Project and is a web project stemming from the PLCIP.
Its aim is to combat hate crime a raise tolerance and awareness online. The Hate Crimes
Research Network is a network highly involved in research, publications, as well as links
involving bias-motivated crimes. The Human Rights Campaign has important research involving
hate crimes and why they occur.
A useful book in understanding hate crime and how it correlates with psychology is the
book entitled The Psychology of Hate written by Robert J. Sternberg,PhD. The book introduces
and discusses the origins and evolution of hate and roots of hate, violence, and evil. Some other
contents include on hate and its determinants: some effective and cognitive influences, and the
nature of prejudice: the psychological foundations of hate.
In regards to conferences, Northeastern University’s International Conference on Hate
Crime discusses topics such as hate crime in Europe, racism in the United States, when hate
crimes end and ethnic conflict begins, organized groups and individual hate crime, rethinking
violence and it’s control and solutions to the problems of hate.
The National Institute of Justice funds research, development, and evaluation about
criminal justice, including hate crimes in the United States which will lead to more information
on hate crime and how to stop this negative activity in the future.
Hate Crimes
References
Primary Publications
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology
American Behavioral Scientist
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Professional Associations
Southern Poverty Law Center Intelligence Project
Tolerance.org
Hate Crimes Research Network
Major Conferences
University’s International Conference on Hate Crime
Funding Agency
The National Institute of Justice
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Assignment Reflection Form
1. This assignment was interesting and informative above all. It educated me on what hate
crimes really are and where to research this topic.
2. The strength of this paper is the description of what a hate crime is and who hate crimes
typically occur against. In addition, I provided a good amount of relevant journals that
involve hate crime.
3. I think I could have taken the time to discuss this topic with a practitioner within this
discipline because it probably would have been a good deal of help.
4. I really learned how to create a paper that is not totally about the topic, but how to
provide different sources and materials about the topic. I am more used to writing about
the topic I have chosen, but for this assignment, I provided information that has the
potential to help those who may have to actually write about and research the topic which
was challenging but beneficial.