POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION AND CONDITIONS OF CUSTODY (FROM WOMEN AND TERROR, 1978, BY SUSANNE VON PACZENSKY - SEE NCJ-54517)

• NCJ Number: 54518
• Author(s): H EINSELE; N LOEW-BEER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Rowohlt Taschenbuch Verlag Gmbh
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)
• Note: AN ENGLISH SUMMARY IS PUBLISHED IN NCJRS INTERNATIONAL SUMMARIES - VOL. 3 (NCJ 57197).

Annotation

STUDIES OF GERMAN FEMALE TERRORISTS DRAW TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS FOR THE SOCIOPSYCHOLOGICAL CAUSES OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT, AND SUGGEST OPTIMAL METHODS FOR THEIR REHABILITATION.

Abstract

STUDIES OF GERMANY FEMALE TERRORISTS DO NOT REVEAL PARTICULARLY STRONG MOTIVATIONS FOR EMANCIPATION,, EITHER POLITICALLY, FOR WOMEN AS A GROUP, OR FOR THEMSELVES; INSTEAD, THESE TERRORISTS SEEM TO BEHAVE LIKE OTHER FEMALE DEVIANTS (E.G., THOSE INVOLVED IN ALCOHOL OR DRUG ABUSE). PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS CONCLUDES, HOWEVER, THAT FEMALE TERRORISTS MAY RATIONALIZE THAT THEY HAVE HIGHER GOALS THAN COMMON CRIMINALS AND DRUG USERS. IN SCATTERED CASES, EROTIC FACTORS AND THE CHOICE OR PARTNERS LED TO TERRORIST INVOLVEMENT. SOCIAL ORIGINS OF GERMAN FEMALE TERRORISTS HAVE BEEN ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY MIDDLE CLASS-RAISED TO SEEK FULFILLMENT IN MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE RATHER THAN A PROFESSION, THESE WOMEN MAY TRANSFER THEIR DEVOTION TO AN EXTRAPERSONAL CAUSE WHEN THE CONTEXT CHANGES. WOMEN MAY NEED AN EXTRA STRONG PUSH TO DEVIATE FROM THEIR TRADITIONAL ROLE SO AS TO BE CAPABLE OF ASSUMING LEADERSHIP ROLES. IN ANY CASE, PUBLIC OPINION JUDGES THESE FEMALE TERRORISTS MORE HARSHLY THAN THEIR MALE CONTERPARTS. MANY PERSONS USE THIS DISGUST OF FEMALE TERRORISTS AS ONE MORE PRETEXT TO REJECT THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT, JUST AS TERRORISM, WHICH IS INVOLVED IN ONLY A FRACTION OF SOCIETY'S VIOLENT DEATHS, IS USED AS A PRETEXT FOR A GENERAL POLITICAL SHIFT TO CONSERVATISM. WHATEVER THE REASONS FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENTS, INCARCERATED FEMALE TERRORISTS MUST NOT ONLY BE PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN PRISON LIFE, BUT ALSO MUST BE GIVEN SPECIAL TREATMENT, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY AND INTENSIVE DISCUSSION OF HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL REALITIES. CONVERSION OF FEMALE TERRORISTS FROM UNQUESTIONING LOYALISTS TO THEIR CAUSE TO PERSONS DISPLAYING BEHAVIOR ACCEPTABLE TO SOCIETY, WITH REALISTIC CRITICAL INVOLVEMENT, SEEMS POSSIBLE ONLY IN THIS WAY. THE POSITIVE STRENGTH OF TERRORISTS IS THEIR INVOLVEMENT. THIS MUST BE STRIPPED OF ITS NEGATIVE DESTRUCTIVE FORM AND REDIRECTED INTO POSITIVE COOPERATIVE EFFORT. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. --IN GERMAN. (MHP)