NCJ Number
14454
Journal
Revue de droit penal et de criminologie Issue: I Dated: (OCTOBER 1973) Pages: 33-44
Date Published
1973
Length
12 pages
Annotation
ANALYSIS OF THE MOTIVES OF A GROUP OF YOUNG WEST GERMAN URBAN GUERILLAS WHO COMMITTED A SERIES OF ROBBERIES, BURGLARIES, AND ACTS OF TERRORISM FROM 1970 TO 1972.
Abstract
THE GROUP INCLUDED OVER 100 PERSONS OF BOTH SEXES, MOST OF THEM WITH COLLEGE EDUCATIONS. THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT THE GUERILLAS DID NOT ACT ON THE BASIS OF IDEOLOGICAL OR OTHERWISE RATIONAL MOTIVES. INSTEAD, THEIR AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR RESULTED FROM FRUSTRATION AT NOT BEING ABLE TO CHANGE SOCIETY, ALIENATION FROM THE IDEAS AND ATTITUDES OF OTHER PEOPLE, AND A FEELING THAT LIFE IS MEANINGLESS. THESE FEELINGS WERE A REACTION TO WHAT THE AUTHOR SAYS IS A CHARACTERISTIC PRESENT-DAY ABSENCE OF WIDELY-ACCEPTED SOCIAL VALUES WHICH COULD SATISFY YOUTHFUL IDEALISM. THE AUTHOR ALSO CONTENDS THAT SUCH FEELINGS ARE AN IMPORTANT AND OFTEN UNDERRATED FACTOR IN MUCH CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. --IN FRENCH, ORIGINAL IN GERMAN