| The Canadian justice system is based upon modifications to classical theory. Classical theory suggests that when individuals engage in socially harmful behaviour such as assault, they are to be punished for their self-interested acts. But, many criminal acts go unpunished even when detected, and they do not always appear to be entirely motivated by rational thought. This is particularly true in Canadian ice hockey arenas where violent behaviour is not uncommon, and it is rarely brought before the courts.This study uses Jack Katz's version of symbolic interactionism to explain violence in Canadian ice hockey. This brand of symbolic interactionism, referred to as "moral transcendentalism", suggests that criminal and deviant events are attempts to embody the moral good. That is, people may violate state laws, but believe that they are seeking "justice". When faced with serious status threats, people will find themselves humiliated and seduced by their own rage. Others, including judges and jurors, are able to identify with the emotional processes experienced by perpetrators and will, at times, empathize with them. Consequently, criminal behaviour may go unpunished. This study incorporates the method of analytic induction to examine information provided by 39 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with male and female hockey players, coaches, and administrators at several levels of the Canadian game. Taken together, they provide considerable support for the Katzian perspective. |
