NCJ Number
59641
Journal
Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: (1976) Pages: 328-335
Date Published
1976
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE PHYSICIAN WHO WORKS WITH VIOLENT PERSONS MUST KEEP TWO PERSPECTIVES IN MIND: THE FORCES IN THAT PERSON'S ENVIRONMENT WHICH ARE CONDUCIVE TO VIOLENCE AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS PRESENT IN THE INDIVIDUAL.
Abstract
MANY ASPECTS OF THE CURRENT AMERICAN ENVIRONMENT ARE CONDUCIVE TO VIOLENCE: THE WIDESPREAD SENSE OF ROOTLESSNESS, A LACK OF COMMUNITY, CHANGING VALUE SYSTEMS, AN EMPHASIS ON IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION, AND THE PROLONGED ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DEPENDENCY OF YOUNG PEOPLE. MASS MEDIA EXPOSE THE WEAKNESSES OF GOVERNMENT AND UNDERMINE AUTHORITY, WHILE OFFERING POWERFUL REINFORCEMENT OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. WEAPONS AND DRUGS ARE EASILY OBTAINED. POVERTY AND RACISM ALSO CREATE SUBCULTURAL GHETTOS WHICH TEACH VIOLENCE AND OFTEN REWARD IT. CURRENT CRIMINOLOGICAL STUDIES TEND TO DISREGARD THE PERSONAL FORCES AND CONCENTRATE ON THE SOCIAL CAUSES OF VIOLENCE. YET, PERSONAL CAUSES OFTEN EXPLAIN WHY SOME PERSONS BECOME VIOLENT AND OTHERS DO NOT. A FEELING OF FRUSTRATION AND OTHER PSYCHODYNAMIC FACTORS HAVE BEEN IMPLICATED BY RESEARCHERS, BUT PREDICTION OF VIOLENCE IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL THE PERSON HAS ALREADY EXHIBITED VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. THE EVENTS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE VIOLENCE SHOULD ALSO BE EXAMINED BECAUSE MANY SUCH INCIDENTS ARE THE OUTGROWTH OF A CHAIN OF CIRCUMSTANCES. PHYSICIANS SHOULD BE ALERT TO VIOLENCE WHEN THE PATIENT HAS A HISTORY OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR; WHEN THREATS ARE MADE; IF THERE IS A HISTORY OF PARENTAL DEPRIVATION; IF THE TRIAD OF ENURESIS, FIRE-SETTING, AND BRUTALITY TO ANIMALS IS SEEN; IF DRUG USE HAS INCREASED; AND IF THERE IS RECENT FAMILY CONTENTION OR A CHANGE IN SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS THAT DIMINISH SELF-ESTEEM. (GLR)