NCJ Number
62751
Date Published
1972
Length
43 pages
Annotation
PATTERNS OF THOUGHT AND BEHAVIOR SHARED BY REVOLUTIONARIES ARE DESCRIBED AND EXPLAINED IN A REVIEW AND SYNTHESIS OF SELECTED WORKS ON REVOLUTION.
Abstract
REVOLUTION IS DEFINED AS AN ATTEMPT TO IMPOSE, BY ANY MEANS, A RAPID AND COMPREHENSIVE CHANGE IN THE THINKING AND BEHAVIOR OF MEMBERS OF A SOCIETY. EXISTING DESCRIPTIONS OF REVOLUTIONARIES AND EXPLANATIONS OF THEIR BEHAVIOR ARE REVIEWED. INCLUDED ARE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY AS 'MAD MAN,' WHOSE ACTIONS REFLECT A DISTORTED VIEW OF REALITY; AS 'MASS MAN,' WHO IDENTIFIES WITH AND GLORIFIES THE MASSES; AS 'POLITICAL MAN,' ENGAGED IN A RUTHLESS PURSUIT OF ABSOLUTE POWER; AND AS 'REVOLUTIONARY MAN,' WHO IS ONLY PART OF THE PROCESS OF REMAKING A SOCIETY. VARIOUS THEORIES EXPLAIN REVOLUTIONARY BEHAVIOR IN TERMS OF UNIQUE FACTORS, SITUATIONAL NECESSITY, FAMILIAR MOTIVATIONS, PSYCHOLOGICAL VOID (CULTURAL REJECTION), AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CONFLICT (CHILDHOOD TRAUMA). THE REVIEW SUGGESTS THAT THE DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTIC OF REVOLUTIONARIES IS THAT THEY COMBINE EXTREME DOGMATISM WITH EXTREME CYNICISM, AND EXTREME POPULISM WITH EXTREME ELITISM. THE REVIEW ALSO POINTS TO THE VALUE OF FOCUSING EXPLANATIONS OF REVOLUTION ON THE PERSONAL ORDEALS EXPERIENCED BY REVOLUTIONARIES. A DESCRIPTION AND AN EXPLANATION OF REVOLUTIONARY BEHAVIOR, SYNTHESIZED FROM THE LITERATURE ARE SUMMARIZED IN DIAGRAMS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)