NCJ Number
62366
Journal
American Political Science Review Volume: 67 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1973) Pages: 514-539
Date Published
1973
Length
26 pages
Annotation
DATA FROM A SURVEY OF 503 ADULT RESIDENTS OF WATERLOO, IOWA, ARE ANALYZED IN A STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE POTENTIAL FOR POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN GOALS AND ACHIEVEMENT.
Abstract
THE CANTRIL SELF-ANCHORING SCALE WAS USED TO ASSESS RESPONDENTS' VIEWS OF THEIR WORK SITUATION, INCOME, HOUSING, AND CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AT PRESENT, 5 YEARS IN THE PAST, AND 5 YEARS IN THE FUTURE. THE SCALE PROVIDES A MEASURE OF THE DEGREE OF PERCEIVED DISCREPANCY BETWEEN AN INDIVIDUAL'S BEST POSSIBLE AND ACTUAL LEVELS OF ACHIEVEMENT. RESPONDENTS ALSO COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES DESIGNED TO MEASURE THEIR APPROVAL OF AND INTENTION TO ENGAGE IN POLITICAL VIOLENCE. THE MAJOR (AND UNEXPECTED) FINDING OF THE STUDY WAS THAT THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR POLITICAL VIOLENCE WAS MANIFESTED BOTH BY INDIVIDUALS WHO PERCEIVED NEGATIVE CHANGE (INCREASING DISCREPANCY BETWEEN GOALS AND ACHIEVEMENTS) AND BY INDIVIDUALS WHO PERCEIVED POSITIVE CHANGE (DECREASING DISCREPANCY), WHILE INDIVIDUALS WHO PERCEIVED NO CHANGE MANIFESTED THE LEAST POTENTIAL FOR POLITICAL VIOLENCE. ONE IMPLICATION OF THIS FINDING IS THAT, TO REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR POLITICAL VIOLENCE, A STATE SHOULD ENSURE THAT PEOPLE DO NOT COME TO EXPECT ANY MARKED CHANGE IN THEIR STANDARD OF LIVING, EITHER UPWARD OR DOWNWARD. ALTERNATIVE EXPLANATIONS OF THE FINDINGS ARE EXPLORED. DETAILS OF THE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND A DISCUSSION OF ACHIEVEMENT DISCREPANCY CONSTRUCTS ARE INCLUDED, TOGETHER WITH SUPPORTING DATA. (LKM)