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Sociocultural discourse in science: Flawed assumptions and bias in the CLASH model

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2017

Elizabeth E. Van Voorhees
Affiliation:
Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705 VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705Elizabeth.VanVoorhees@va.govSarah.M.Wilson@va.govPatrick.Calhoun2@va.govEric.Elbogen@va.govJean.Beckham@va.govNathan.Kimbrel@va.govhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Elizabeth_Voorheeshttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah_Wilsonhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Patrick_Calhounhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jean_Beckhamhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nathan_Kimbrel Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
Sarah M. Wilson
Affiliation:
Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705 VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705Elizabeth.VanVoorhees@va.govSarah.M.Wilson@va.govPatrick.Calhoun2@va.govEric.Elbogen@va.govJean.Beckham@va.govNathan.Kimbrel@va.govhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Elizabeth_Voorheeshttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah_Wilsonhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Patrick_Calhounhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jean_Beckhamhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nathan_Kimbrel Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
Patrick S. Calhoun
Affiliation:
Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705 VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705Elizabeth.VanVoorhees@va.govSarah.M.Wilson@va.govPatrick.Calhoun2@va.govEric.Elbogen@va.govJean.Beckham@va.govNathan.Kimbrel@va.govhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Elizabeth_Voorheeshttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah_Wilsonhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Patrick_Calhounhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jean_Beckhamhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nathan_Kimbrel Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710 Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705
Eric B. Elbogen
Affiliation:
Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705 VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705Elizabeth.VanVoorhees@va.govSarah.M.Wilson@va.govPatrick.Calhoun2@va.govEric.Elbogen@va.govJean.Beckham@va.govNathan.Kimbrel@va.govhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Elizabeth_Voorheeshttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah_Wilsonhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Patrick_Calhounhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jean_Beckhamhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nathan_Kimbrel Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
Jean C. Beckham
Affiliation:
Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705 VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705Elizabeth.VanVoorhees@va.govSarah.M.Wilson@va.govPatrick.Calhoun2@va.govEric.Elbogen@va.govJean.Beckham@va.govNathan.Kimbrel@va.govhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Elizabeth_Voorheeshttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah_Wilsonhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Patrick_Calhounhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jean_Beckhamhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nathan_Kimbrel Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
Nathan A. Kimbrel
Affiliation:
Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705 VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705Elizabeth.VanVoorhees@va.govSarah.M.Wilson@va.govPatrick.Calhoun2@va.govEric.Elbogen@va.govJean.Beckham@va.govNathan.Kimbrel@va.govhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Elizabeth_Voorheeshttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah_Wilsonhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Patrick_Calhounhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jean_Beckhamhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nathan_Kimbrel Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710

Abstract

In this commentary, we contest Van Lange and colleagues' central claim that “countries closer to the equator are generally more violent.” We point to the lack of credible empirical evidence for this assertion and suggest that the CLASH model uses the language of science to lend false credibility to a problematic sociocultural discourse.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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