CRIMINOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR - AN ARGUMENT FOR DISAGGREGATE LABELING

• NCJ Number: 27868
• Author(s): R A BERK; L H MASOTTI
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 54 pages
• Corporate Author: Northwestern University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE AUTHORS REVIEW THE SOCIAL BASES OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE LABELS, TRADITIONAL LABELS APPLIED TO COLLECTIVE VIOLENCE, MODERN REAPPRAISALS OF THE TRADITIONAL VIEWS OF CROWDS, AND SOME TYPOLOGIES OF RIOTERS.

Abstract

IT IS ARGUED THAT THE LABELS USED IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFLECT SOCIAL, BUREAUCRATIC, AND POLITICAL BIASES AS MUCH AS NOTIONS OF JUSTICE AND EMPIRICAL RESEARCH. THE AUTHORS CONTEND THAT THE LABELS AND CATEGORIES TYPICALLY APPLIED BY PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND POLITICAL LEADERS ON PARTICIPANTS IN COLLECTIVE VIOLENCE ARE ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SUBJECTIVE AND BIASED USE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE LABELS. A BRIEF HISTORY OF VIEWS ON COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR IS PROVIDED. INCLUDING DESCRIPTIONS OF THE VIEWS OF GUSTAVE LE BON, SIGMUND FREUD, NEIL SMELSER, AND OTHERS. RECENT REACTIONS TO EARLIER TRADITIONS ARE TRACED. THE AUTHORS PROPOSE THAT CROWD BEHAVIOR BE VIEWED LIKE OTHER HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN GROUPS AND NOT AS A SPECIAL PHENOMENON. THEY ARGUE THAT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES OF CROWD MEMBERS ARE LIKE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES OPERATING IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES. WHAT MAKES CROWD BEHAVIOR APPEAR DIFFERENT, THEY CONTEND, IS THE VERY DIFFICULT ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE COLLECTIVE DECISION-MAKING OCCURS. SUGGESTIONS ON THE KINDS OF LABELS THAT ARE SUGGESTED BY THIS APPROACH TO CROWD BEHAVIOR ARE OFFERED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)