Accidental Death and the “Culture of Honor”

Injured man in emergency room waiting room

What is going through the mind of a young man who dives off a riverbank into shallow water, or who races his car on the wrong side of the road, or who picks up a firecracker after the fuse is lit? “Not much,” you might say. Recent studies indicate that young men who engage in such risky behaviors suffer a higher rate of accidental deaths. No surprise there! What may be unexpected, though, is that these behaviors are more common in certain parts of the United States because of a regional “culture of honor.”

What is a “culture of honor,” and where does it come from? A culture of honor values reputation and the defense thereof, sometimes through violence. Such cultures have commonly developed in places with few natural resources and minimal law enforcement. Many Scotch-Irish immigrants who came to America in the 1700s embodied such culture traits. These immigrants eventually influenced the cultures of states in the South and West. As a result, a man in these parts of the country is more likely to respond with hostility and/or violence if he is insulted or if his reputation as a brave, manly guy is challenged. He is also more likely to take risks to prove his courage—risks that might result in accidental death. White males who live in rural areas or small towns are more likely than urban non-whites to behave in this way.

This kind of mind-set can indeed be deadly. Statistics show that rural areas of so-called honor states have a 19 percent higher rate of accidental death, compared to non-honor states. Risk-taking associated with the culture of honor is blamed for more than 7,000 deaths per year. Food for thought, the next time you hear, “Come on, man, I dare you!”

Image credit: © Peter Dazeley/Photographer’s Choice/Getty Images

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16 Comments

  1. Terry says:

    sounds a little like the “honor killings” I have heard of in Appalachian culture. Not apples to apples but it is misguided intentions regarding the sanctity of human life…

  2. Jacob says:

    aww soo sad

  3. g6 says:

    that suck

  4. sophie says:

    oh my gosh that is terrible

  5. bff says:

    i think this is really sad and that my mom should not have let me read it.

  6. Name: Classified Information says:

    This is so sad!!! I cant believe the stuff some people do…its so sad 🙁

  7. toxiccandy101 says:

    its sooooo ironic

  8. secret... says:

    why do people even do things like that

  9. alliah says:

    how is accidental death honorable!? that doesnt make sence. 🙁

  10. Amanda says:

    If it is their way of life, is it necessarily horrible? We may not agree, for I most certainly do not agree that a person can gain honor by proving it through violence and that true honor is what you know of yourself and how you respond to such challenges, but if we are supposed to be culture tolerant, aren’t we supposed to be tolerant of their right to guard their honor?

    By the way, that was sarcasm.

  11. kyle says:

    its not sad if some is dumb enouhg to “accidentaly” kill them selfs actuly its kinda funy

  12. kyle says:

    its like u get a gun look point the barrel at your face and “accidentaly” pull the trigger

  13. person says:

    i agree