Donnermeyer (1994) notes that residents of rural areas may have somewhat greater tolerance for the use of violence in some circumstances.
More Southerners than Northerners seem to feel that the use of violence is appropriate under certain circumstances--for example, as a response to insults, a means of self-protection, or a socialization tool in training children. These regional differences may be even more pronounced in rural areas (Nisbett, 1993).
For further information on rural crime and violence, refer to the following sources:
