Richard Nisbeit and Dov Cohen wrote in thier book “Culture of Honor” that the cause for an “honor culture”, a culture that its people value honor highly, and will not hesitate to resign to violence at the slightest insult. A culture that accepts the norms of duels, blood feuds, and a high level of violence.
The explanation presented in the book is that because in hill countries, where the majority of people practice in herding sheep and other livestock, there is a minor goverment and police presence(as for the low population density) and that stealing an entire herd is much easier and profitable then stealing an entire harvest(what the thief will do - start harvesting the field?)
There is a low risk the thief will be caught and punished, and high profit to be made from each theft(which is easier to), therefore a low risk/high reward ratio of crime.
So the only way a man can protect his family and property is through intimidation. He must make sure that any thief will know that if they will mess with him - they can respect harsh and fatal retaliation. That kind of reputation is bought by basically not taking shit from anybody. If you dont respond to threats and insults to you or your families “honor”, youre a weak prey that will expect harassment from thiefs.
This corresponds nicely with southern US population that decends from irish and scottish border country herdmen, and arabian families that accept killing family members for “the family honor” which have roots in beduin and arabian nomad ancestors.
Problem is that the “culture of honor” could also be the collection of a low scoioeconomical status effect on violence. I struggle to find areas that contain a population of herdsmen/bordersmen/low population density area that are not subjected to harsh socio economic conditions.
So the question is - Is tendency to violence is to be attributed to low socioeconomical status, that just happens to contain herdsmen/bordermen? Is tendency to violence can be attributed to BOTH herdsmen/brodersmen causes AND low socioeconomical status?
Are there any good socioeconomical status herdsmen/bordersmen that dont have the “culture of honor?”