Collins Micro-Sociological Theory Of Violence

Collins' micro-sociological theory of violence has generated much discussion and critiques. Armstrong (2008) argues that Collin's theory is a quite limited perspective, which neglects other important cultural factors. For instance, Collins uses the concept of "forward panic" as a fundamental variable that focuses on a specific emotional state and this is generalised across time, place, race, gender, economics, and culture (Armstrong, 2008). This dismisses the cultural interpretation of the Rodney King beating as a case of racism. However, Collins (2008) explains that racism has little effect on whether individuals will be violent in confrontations, or how successful the violence will be, because racism by itself cannot overcome the barrier

First, Collins deviates from the traditional argument that certain "types of individuals" become violent (Aho, 2013), and argues that violence are not committed by "bad" people, but also committed by "good" people, like police officers who are usually responsible for public safety. This case also illustrates the importance of recognising emotion as an interaction process involving everyone present: the attacker, the victim, and the audience (Collins, 2008). Karstedt et al's (2011) research found that suspects who turn and run away, or resist arrest in situations when police are in full forward panic mode are more likely to be attacked by police, than those who non-violently stand firm and attempt to verbally engage with police. Even Klusemann's (2012) research on the tipping-points to genocidal ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and Rwanda, found micro-situational obstacles where threatened victims sometimes escaped because they showed emotional resoluteness. Perhaps, the Rodney King beating could have been avoided if one or both sides refrained from escalating the conflict, by lowering the tension and putting the situation back in emotional equilibrium (Collins, 2013). Collins recommends that our best defence in confrontations with police is our facial expression, voice, speech, body language, and demeanour. This is a reciprocal interaction; by

Human emotion is a powerful and complex experience that can influence individuals to go against the conventional morality of normal situations (Aho, 2013). Evidently, emotions can dominate a person to commit acts of violence, even the supposedly professional, rational, and disciplined individuals like police officers can inflict harm on others. The emotional dynamics of violent situations are found in the "pathways" that lead into the "tunnel of violence": attacking the weak victim; "forward panic"; and audience encouragement (Collins, 2008). It is through these pathways that came together at a particular time and place that shaped the tension, fear, and the emotional entrainment of the officers to act in ways they would normally not. Such emotional dominance is subject to many situational contingencies; therefore, some individuals who reach the peak of violence (overkill) will not necessarily remain there (Aho, 2013). One of the officers who participated in beating King testified that he told another officer to "get the hell off" King, because the beating became “excessive" (Linder, 2001). While violence is difficult for human beings (Collins, 2013), the Rodney King beating highlights that when there is a build-up of confrontation tension/fear, finding the features of the situation that shape our emotions and acts can help alter the