Psychodynamic Antecedents of Violence (From Violent Behavior: Assessment and Intervention, V 1, P 69-84, 1990, Leonard J Hertzberg, Gene F Astrum, et al, eds. -- See NCJ-123057)

• NCJ Number: 123061
• Author(s): E McDaniel; G U Balis; S Strahan
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 16 pages
• Sale Source: PMA Publishing Corp
• Publication Type: Research (Theoretical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Psychodynamically a greater propensity for violence is found in a person who has impaired object relationships that have left him with severe narcisstic vulnerabilities, who has problems in defining ego boundaries, and whose self-esteem fluctuates widely and frequently between feeling powerful and grandiose and feeling helpless and worthless.

Abstract

From a systems framework, the psychodynamic approach to identifying factors in violent behavior conceptualizes personality as representing a subsystem within the multilevel hierarchical organization of the human organism. This is an open system, characterized by its own unique organization and steady-state dynamics, in the face of a changing environment with which it maintains input-output relationships. The person more likely to become violent has faulty formation of an ego ideal, poorly integrated superego prohibitions, with low affect tolerance, and with primitive defense and an immature defensive organization. The violence-prone person has a lifestyle characterized by compulsions, a lack of organization in his intrapsychic structures, and a rigidity that obstructs adaptation to changing internal and external environments. His ability to sublimate conflictual feelings is reduced. Given certain circumstances and with sufficient provocation, in the face of a symbolically significant event, and under sufficient psychological stress, the person reacts with violence. 31 references.