NCJ Number
20221
Journal
ETUDES INTERNATIONALES DE PSYCHO-SOCIOLOGIE CRIMINELLE Issue: 20-21-22-23 Pages: 1971-1972
Date Published
1972
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR TRACES THE MANIFESTATIONS OF AGGRESSION IN SOCIETY FROM INDIVIDUAL AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS TO COLLECTIVE AGGRESSION AND TERRORISM, AND PROPOSES THAT TERRORISM CAN BE PREVENTED BY REDUCING SOCIETY'S USE OF AGGRESSION.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR STATES THAT TERRORISM IS AN ACCUMULATION OF AGGRESSIVE URGES WHICH ARE MANIFESTED IN MULTIPLE ACTS OF AGGRESSION DIRECTED TOWARDS A MORE OR LESS CONCRETE END. THEORIES CONCERNING THE CAUSES OF AGGRESSION ARE EXAMINED, AND THE VARIOUS FORMS OF AGGRESSION IN SOCIETY ARE OUTLINED. THESE INCLUDE HEALTHY AGGRESSIVE INSTINCTS DIRECTED TOWARD PROTECTION OF SELF OR PROPERTY; BRIEF COLLECTIVE AGGRESSION SUCH AS RIOTS; ORGANIZED AGGRESSION SUCH AS WAR; AND POLITICAL INTIMIDATION THROUGH TYRANNY OR TERRORISM. THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT TERRORISM IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE MEASURE UNLESS IT IS CONDUCTED BY THE GROUP IN POWER, EVEN THOUGH IT IS OFTEN USED IN AN ATTEMPT TO GAIN POWER. HOWEVER, TERRORIST ACTS THEMSELVES ONLY SERVE TO REINFORCE THE AGGRESSIVE INSTINCT IN SOCIETY. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT TERRORISM CAN BE PREVENTED BY TWO MEANS: CHANNELING OF SOCIETY'S AGGRESSION TO SOCIAL ENDS, AND CREATING A SOCIAL CLIMATE IN WHICH VIOLENCE IS NOT THE MEANS OF SOLVING PROBLEMS. --IN FRENCH..DMC