The book argues that, while violent acts, such as a gang member taking revenge for an attack on a member of his gang, are usually unjustifiable to outsiders, the peers, family, or other members of the criminal’s social circle often see them as “necessary measures.” In many cases, a perpetrator’s peers or family may accuse him or her of being weak or cowardly if they do not act.
“Social workers and newspaper readers don’t think gang members should be killing each other, but within the gang they do,” Fiske said.
The authors are conscious that the book’s message may be seen as condoning violence, which they deny. In order to tackle violence, they say, we must first understand the motivations behind it. They point to successful outcomes from, for instance, gang and spousal abuse intervention programs which aim to convince perpetrators that, though their own belief systems condone it, the world outside sees their violence as immoral and unacceptable.
“All you have to do,” Fiske said, “is convince the people who are violent that what they’re doing is wrong.”
Article Appeared @http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/12/breaking-bad-and-the-science-of-violence/