Date of Award
12-1-2016
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Criminology and Criminal Justice
First Advisor
Schafer, Joseph
Abstract
The temperature-aggression hypothesis, negative affect escape hypothesis, and routine activities theory all contribute to understanding the relationship between temperature, aggression, and crime. Utilizing discussions from all three theories to develop the methodology to best answer questions about the interplay among temperature, aggression, and crime. This study evaluates the relationship between simple assaults and temperature and aggravated assaults and temperature. Using data from Charlotte-Mecklenburg county from 2006-2012, a multiple linear regression was run to determine these differences. Daily ambient temperature had a positive significant effect on the total assault rate, simple assault rate, and aggravated assault rate. The rate increase for simple assault was much larger than the rate increase for aggravated assault per degree Fahrenheit. These differences in the types of assault warrant further exploration of minor crimes in prediction models.
Access
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