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<p><amp-youtube layout="responsive" width="1080" height="608" data-videoid="wZoQP5g7Syg" title="Violentization Theory | Lonnie Athens"><a placeholder href="https://youtu.be/wZoQP5g7Syg"><img src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wZoQP5g7Syg/hqdefault.jpg" layout="fill" object-fit="cover" alt="Violentization Theory | Lonnie Athens"></a></amp-youtube></p>
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<p><a href="https://youtu.be/wZoQP5g7Syg">Lonnie Athens Violentization Theory</a></p>
<p>Lonnie Athens is an American criminologist who created a powerful and thought-provoking theory called the Violentization Theory. This theory is all about understanding how a person becomes violent. Athens did not believe that people are simply born violent. Instead, he argued that violence is something people learn through certain life experiences. His theory is based on deep interviews and case studies of violent offenders, especially those involved in very serious and aggressive crimes. He wanted to know what pushes an ordinary person to turn into someone who uses extreme violence to solve problems or express emotions.</p>
<p>According to Lonnie Athens, people do not become violent overnight. It is a process that happens over time, usually beginning in childhood or early youth. He believed that a person becomes violent by going through a series of stages. These stages build on one another, and the more stages a person goes through, the more likely they are to become a dangerous and habitual user of violence. This idea helps us understand that violent behavior is not random but often follows a pattern that can be identified and studied.</p>
<p>The first stage in Athens’s theory is called brutalization. This is where everything starts. In this stage, the person is exposed to violence in some form. It could be through physical abuse by parents, caregivers, or other authority figures. Sometimes, it is not just the person who is abused, but they may also witness others, like their siblings or friends, being abused. This creates a deep emotional impact. The child or young person learns that violence is part of life and that it is a way to control others. They may feel fear, helplessness, confusion, and even shame during this time. Over time, they become numb to violence and start to see it as normal.</p>
<p>The second part of brutalization is what Athens called belligerency. This is where the person begins to change their attitude. After being abused or watching others suffer, the person becomes angry and starts to believe that the only way to survive or protect themselves is to fight back. They may decide that no one will hurt them again without facing consequences. They begin to accept violence not just as something that happens but as something they themselves might use one day. This is a very important turning point, because the person starts to believe that being violent is necessary and even justified in some cases.</p>
<p>The third stage is called violent performances. This is when the person actually starts using violence. It might begin with small acts like hitting someone during an argument or getting into a school fight. But over time, they may become more confident and aggressive. Each time they use violence and it works—meaning they get what they want, or people back off—they feel stronger. They feel like violence gives them power, respect, or control. Others may begin to fear them or treat them differently. This kind of feedback encourages them to continue being violent, and it becomes a part of how they deal with the world.</p>
<p>The fourth stage is called virulency. This is the final stage, and it is when the person fully accepts violence as a regular part of life. They do not just use it in rare situations. Instead, they use it frequently and without much thought. They may take pride in being feared. They might feel a sense of identity or even superiority because of their ability to be violent. At this point, they do not feel guilt or doubt about hurting others. Violence becomes their main way of solving problems, gaining respect, or expressing themselves. They are no longer just reacting to violence—they have become violent individuals who believe that violence is the only language people understand.</p>
<p>Athens’s theory is very important because it helps explain why some people become extremely violent while others do not. He believed that society often overlooks the painful experiences that create violent people. Many violent offenders come from homes or communities where violence is a regular part of life. If children are constantly surrounded by cruelty, disrespect, and fear, it shapes how they see the world and how they think they should behave. Instead of learning kindness, communication, and understanding, they learn to fight, dominate, and harm.</p>
<p>This theory also gives us hope, because if violence is something that is learned, then maybe it can be unlearned. By recognizing the early signs—like brutalization and belligerency—teachers, parents, social workers, and community leaders can step in and offer support, therapy, guidance, and love. Helping young people deal with trauma and teaching them better ways to handle conflict can stop them from going further down the path to violence.</p>
<p>Athens’s work encourages us to look beyond the crime and try to understand the person behind it. It does not excuse violence, but it explains it. When we understand the steps that lead to violence, we can work on preventing it. This means creating safer homes, offering counseling to abused children, building trust in schools, and making sure that young people feel valued, protected, and heard.</p>
<p>Another important lesson from this theory is that respect and reputation are huge motivators for those who become violent. Many violent individuals feel disrespected by society. They may have been bullied, ignored, or treated unfairly. Over time, they decide that the only way to gain respect is to become feared. That is why Athens said that if we want to reduce violence, we must build communities where people are treated with dignity and given real opportunities to succeed without having to fight for attention or power.</p>
<p>Lonnie Athens’s Violentization Theory has influenced not just criminology, but also psychology, social work, and education. It shows us how deep and complex human behavior can be. It tells us that behind every violent act, there is usually a long and painful story. It asks us to listen more, judge less, and work harder to build a world where people do not feel the need to become violent in order to survive or be respected.</p>
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<p><img class="alignnone wp-image-2812" src="https://sociologylearners.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Khushdil-Khan-Kasi-1-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="158" height="158" /></p>
<p><strong>By Khushdil Khan Kasi</strong></p>
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