NCJ Number
65027
Date Published
1979
Length
18 pages
Annotation
DELINQUENCY IS EXPLAINED FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE CHILD'S PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORY.
Abstract
THE SCHIZOPARANOID STATE OF THE INFANT WHOSE WORLD IS NOT INDIVIDUALIZED AND WHOSE 'PARTIAL OBJECT' (THE MOTHER) IS AT ONCE GOOD AND BAD, DEPENDING ON WHETHER SHE BRINGS PLEASURE OR DISPLEASURE, REMAINS INHERENT IN THE ADULT. IN SOME INDIVIDUALS, THE PARTIAL OBJECT NEVER BECOMES WHOLE. THE INFANT DEVELOPS FURTHER (1) BY RECOGNIZING HIMSELF IN THE MIRROR AS AN INTEGRAL BEING AND AT THE SAME TIME BEING RECOGNIZED BY A SECOND PERSON (HIS MOTHER); (2) BY COMPREHENDING HIS AGGRESSION, WHICH MAY BECOME DESTRUCTIVE VIOLENCE; AND (3) BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE 'LAW OF THE FATHER,' (I.E., THAT HE IS SEPARATED FROM HIS MOTHER, MUST SHARE HER WITH HIS FATHER, AND IS THEREFORE SUBJECTED TO LIMITATIONS. PSYCHOSIS ORIGINATES WHEN THE INFANT-MOTHER RELATIONSHIP PERSISTS. DEVIANCE RESULTS FROM THE INFANT'S FAILURE TO UNDERGO A SIMILAR PROCESS IN HIS RELATIONSHIP TO SOCIETY. THE DEVIANT FAILS TO DEVELOP A SOCIAL IDENTITY AND TO ACCEPT THE LIMITATIONS OF SOCIAL LAW. WHILE THE DELINQUENT ABUSES THE LAW, THE DEVIANT DOES NOT KNOW LAWS EXIST. ACCORDING TO THE NOTION OF 'SACRIFICIAL CRISIS,' A COMMUNITY OVERRUN BY VIOLENCE WILL ACCEPT THE MOST IMMEDIATE REMEDY, USUALLY VIOLENT, AND IN A PREJUDICIAL SYSTEM THE SACRIFIAL ORDER CHOOSES INDIVIDUALS OUTSIDE THE LAW, I.E., DEVIANTS AS SACRIFICES TO THE PRESERVATION OF ORDER. THE WESTERN WORLD IS FACING A CRISIS OF LAW, WHICH THREATENS TO CAUSE REGRESSION FROM A JUDICIAL STATE TO A STATE DEMANDING RITUAL SACRIFICE OF VICTIMS. IN SUCH A SITUATION, TWO GROUPS OF SACRIFICERS COMPETE, THE POLICE, WHO CAN PLACE THEMSELVES IN A POSITION TO INVESTIGATE, TO JUDGE, AND TO EXECUTE; AND SOCIAL WORKERS, ESPECIALLY DOCTORS, WHO SUBSTITUTE EXILE FROM SOCIETY (E.G., PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS) FOR MURDER. --IN FRENCH. (KMD)