POWER AND INNOCENCE - A SEARCH FOR THE SOURCES OF VIOLENCE

• NCJ Number: 15929
• Author(s): R MAY
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 283 pages
• Sale Source: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A PHILOSOPHICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATEMNT OF FEELINGS OF POWER AND POWERLESSNESS AS THEY RELATE TO THE CONCEPTS OF INNOCENCE AND EXPERIENCE AND TO VIOLENT BEHAVIOR.

Abstract

PEOPLE FEEL POWERLESS WHEN THEY ARE UNABLE TO REACH, COMMUNICATE WITH, AND OR MANIPULATE THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEARINGS ON THEIR LIVES - THE SIGNIFICANT OTHERS. THE BRIDGE TO SIGNIFICANT OTHERS IS POWER. BUT THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE POWER AS WELL AS THOSE WHO DO WILL OFTEN REPRESS THEIR AWARENESS OF THIS FACT. AS THOSE WHO FEEL POWERLESS BECOME AWARE OF THE REMEDIES AND INTRINSIC CAPABILITIES, THEIR FORMER INNOCENT CONDITION IS TRANSMOGRIFIED INTO A CONDITION OF EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE ACTING OUT OF VIOLENCE. VIOLENCE IN THIS SENSE IS ANTONYMOUS TO APATHY, LETHARGY AND INERTIA. CASE STUDIES OF FORMER PATIENTS HELP TO EMPHASIZE THE AUTHORS POINTS AS HE DISCUSSES THE MEANING OF AGGRESSION AND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ECSTASY AND VIOLENCE AS WELL AS THE NEED OF CIVILIZATION FOR THE REBEL-LEADER.