AGGRESSIVENESS IN ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY (FROM CRIME AND JUSTICE, 1971-1972 - AN AMS ANTHOLOGY, 1974 BY JACKWELL SUSMAN - SEE NCJ-28615)

• NCJ Number: 28637
• Author(s): H Marcuse
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: AMS Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE AUTHOR ARGUES THAT THE AGGRESSIVENESS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY IS CAUSED BY SOCIETY'S IMPOSITION OF CONDITIONS ESSENTIALLY NEGATIVE TO INDIVIDUALS DEVELOPMENT, WHICH RESULTS IN THE RELEASE OF AGGRESSION BY THE INDIVIDUAL.

Abstract

IT IS NOTED THAT SOCIETIES IMPOSE CERTAIN TENDENCIES AND STRUCTURES ON THE INDIVIDUAL TO ALLOW HIM TO FUNCTION WITHIN THE SOCIETY. UNDER IDEAL CONDITIONS, THESE SOCIETAL STRUCTURES WOULD WORK TO PROMOTE INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT IN ACCORD WITH THE NEEDS OF SOCIETY AND THE INDIVIDUAL. IN A 'SICK' SOCIETY, HOWEVER, THESE CONDITIONS AND STRUCTURES ARE DESIGNED TO FORCE THE INDIVIDUAL TO COOPERATE WITH THE EXISTENCE SOCIETY IMPOSES ON HIM - ONE WHICH FURTHERS SOCIETY'S INTERESTS BUT REPRESSES THE INDIVIDUAL'S TRUE NEEDS. THUS THE INDIVIDUAL IS REPRESSED, AND THIS REPRESSION RESULTS IN AGGRESSION. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT THIS AGGRESSION IS THEN UTILIZED FOR THE GROWTH OF ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND TECHNICAL POWER. MANIFESTATIONS OF THIS SOCIETAL AGGRESSIVENESS IN AMERICAN CULTURE ARE OUTLINED.