This article advances a theoretical perspective on violent crime, using interviews with male prisoners in Italy who had perpetrated violence. By drawing on Athens’ (1992, 1997, 2007, 2017) “radical interactionism,” we propose the concept of “violent cosmology” in order to counter linear explanations of cause and effect. In an effort to complement narrative criminologists’ contributions, we seek to recognize and understand the dimensions of meaning that are accessed by social actors when they prepare and carry out a violent act, exploring the psycho-social processes that animate violent social experiences from the perspectives of perpetrators. Specifically, we suggest that a “radical interactionist” approach, in dialogue with narrative criminology, can help (1) illuminate the sources of perpetrators’ narratives; (2) explore the interplay between individuals and social structures; and (3) investigate ambiguities in the narratives of violent actors. Finally, we examine how enhancing the reflexivity of violent actors and recognizing the specificity and integrity of their lives and social experiences is a necessary precondition for understanding violent crime.

中文翻译：

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从“激进的互动主义”方法探索暴力宇宙学

本文通过对意大利犯下暴力行为的男性囚犯的采访，提出了暴力犯罪的理论视角。通过借鉴雅典（1992、1997、2007、2017）的“激进互动主义”，我们提出了“暴力宇宙学”的概念，以对抗因果的线性解释。为了补充叙事犯罪学家的贡献，我们寻求认识和理解社会行动者在准备和实施暴力行为时所获得的意义维度，从各个角度探索激发暴力社会体验的心理社会过程肇事者。具体而言，我们建议采用“激进互动主义”方法，与叙事犯罪学对话，可以帮助 (1) 阐明犯罪者叙事的来源；(2) 探索个体与社会结构之间的相互作用；(3) 调查暴力演员叙述中的歧义。最后，我们研究了如何增强暴力行为者的反思性并认识到他们生活和社会经历的特殊性和完整性是理解暴力犯罪的必要先决条件。