NCJ Number
60460
Journal
INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SCIENCE JOURNAL Volume: 30 Issue: 4 Dated: (1978) Pages: 858-866
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE STUDY OF CRIMINAL VIOLENCE ARE IDENTIFIED AND DISCUSSED.
Abstract
ANY STUDY OF CRIMINAL VIOLENCE MUST DISTINGUISH CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR FROM SOCIAL AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE EMERGE FROM A PERVASIVE OPPRESSION OF LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHOSE BIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPRIVATION IS THE WHOLESALE RESULT OF THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SYSTEM EFFECTING THEIR LIVES. CRIMINAL VIOLENCE IS A RELATIVELY ISOLATED ACTION BY AN INDIVIDUAL ACTING IN SELF-INTEREST AGAINST A DOMINANT MORALITY THAT PROHIBITS SUCH BEHAVIOR. THE STUDY OF CRIMINAL VIOLENCE THUS REQUIRES THAT THE INDIVIDUAL PERSONALITY BE DESCRIBED SYSTEMATICALLY. THIS MEANS ISOLATING AN ELEMENTARY STRUCTURAL UNIT WHICH, WITH ONE VARIATION OR ANOTHER, CAN BE OBSERVED AT ALL LEVELS OF ACTIVITY. THIS ELEMENTARY STRUCTURE MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT BOTH THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF THE INDIVIDUAL. THE COMPLEX OF ENDURING MOTIVES AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF EDUCATION AND ADAPTATION TO THE SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT FORM INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER. WHEN THE CRIMINOLOGIST DEALS WITH TRAITS OF SIGNIFICANCE IN CRIMINOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION, SUCH AS ACQUISITIVENESS, DOMINATION, AND EGOCENTRICISM, OR THEIR OPPOSITES, THE UNDERLYING ASSUMPTION IS THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT INHERENTLY SO CONSTITUTED, BUT BECOME AS THEY ARE BECAUSE OF ADAPTATION TO SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL REQUIREMENTS. IT IS THE TASK OF THE CRIMINOLOGIST TO ASCERTAIN THOSE PARTICULAR INTERACTIONS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL HUMAN NEEDS WITH PARTICULAR ENVIRONMENTS WHICH TEND TO PRODUCE OR INHIBIT CRIMINAL VIOLENCE. THIS WILL ALSO HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIAL AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND PEACEFUL STABILITY. (RCB)