Richard E. Nisbett’s book Culture of Honor “shows that the U.S. South is more violent than the North. The greater violence is limited to situations where there has been an insult or a threat to home or property. Laboratory experiments show that southeners respond with more anger and greater increases in testosterone and cortisol levels when insulted than do northerners and surveys show they feel that violence is an appropriate response to insult or threat to property. Field experiments show that southerners are more accepting of other people who have killed to protect their honor than are northerners. This pattern of sensitivity to insults and threat is found in cultures throughout the world and is particularly common where there is a tradition of earning a living by keeping herds of animals. When this is the case, the individual risks the possibility of losing all his wealth by theft. A stance of toughness and unwillingness to brook any threat or insult is an effective way of making it clear that it would be unwise to steal from him. The U.S. South was founded mostly by herding peoples from Scotland and Ireland and the U.S. North was founded mostly by farming peoples from England, Holland and Germany.”
“Southern Man” by Neil Young
Southern man
better keep your head
Don’t forget
what your good book said
Southern change
gonna come at last
Now your crosses
are burning fast
Southern man
I saw cotton
and I saw black
Tall white mansions
and little shacks.
Southern man
when will you
pay them back?
I heard screamin’
and bullwhips cracking
How long? How long?
Southern man
better keep your head
Don’t forget
what your good book said
Southern change
gonna come at last
Now your crosses
are burning fast
Southern man
Lily Belle,
your hair is golden brown
I’ve seen your black man
comin’ round
Swear by God
I’m gonna cut him down!
I heard screamin’
and bullwhips cracking
How long? How long?
At risk of being called the B-word, or worse yet the R-word,I suggest that you look at the demographics of race in the deep south. I, who have been working in ER’s for about 30 years now, have some specific insights / observations.
Maybe you don’t want to hear it but of the hundreds of stabbings, violent lacerations and gunshot wounds I have treated over this time the descendants of Scottish shepherds were a distinct minority.
I suspect that the emergency room visit demographics of your experience are similar in the north. I don’t believe, however, that they are relevant to what Billy is talking about.
I was born in Ireland and lived in the US South ( NC & SC) most of my life. Live in the North now (MN). The South is hard to shed. Love the food, the land and the people. Folks open doors for ya’ down there.
As I have traveled extensively and lived in NYC for 7 years I disagree that it is more violent.
Are lab experiments conclusive on people? Have field experiments been conducted in the North? Curious…
