Typology and Analytical Model of Violent Incidents in Public Transit

Abstract

Violent incidents in and around public transit vehicles and facilities take a number of forms, with current classification systems separating them by type. Incidents are differentiated by level of interaction between actor and target and by severity of outcome (damage or injury). Frequencies of more specific incident types can be plotted, with the interaction dimension the y-axis and the severity of injury and damage the sections of the x-axis to the right and left, respectively, of the origin. Thus qualitative (type) and quantitative (frequency and severity) information can be provided from a single graph. The value of the suggested method is its ability to be prescriptive and descriptive. Violent incidents that are played out through intense interpersonal interaction may be more amenable to prevention or intervention efforts that have social skills as the focus, with those skills learned through training. Conversely, the incidents that involve no interaction between persons, such as vandalism, might be better dealt with by environmental controls or equipment modifications. An analytical model is used to elucidate motivating factors behind aggressive or violent interaction. From an interactionist perspective, aggressive action or reaction is seen as a means of demonstrating, preserving, or enhancing social status.