NCJ Number
225834
Journal
New Directions for Youth Development Issue: 119 Dated: Fall 2008 Pages: 25-37
Date Published
2008
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article explores the Bielefeld Disintegration approach or social disintegration theory in investigating its role in understanding violence.
Abstract
Investigating the role of social integration or disintegration for the use of violence requires considering more than just the fact of employment integration. Integration comprises economic, institutional, and socioemotional dimensions that are capable of producing sufficient individual recognition in different societal spheres. The Bielefeld disintegration approach centers on explaining diverse phenomena of violence, right-wing extremism, ethnocultural conflicts, and devaluation and repulsion of weak groups. The disintegration approach results from a society’s unsatisfactory integration performance. One basic assumption of the disintegration approach is that the probability and intensity of violent behavior increase in line with experiences and fears of disintegration, while the ability to control them decreases. 1 table and 13 notes