SOCIAL STRESS AND RISING RATES OF SOCIOPATHY (FROM STRESS AND CRIME, P 63-72, 1980, BY MARTIN J MOLOF - SEE NCJ-67800)

• NCJ Number: 67802
• Author(s): M K OPLER
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: NCJ-67802 AVAILABLE ON MICROFICHE FROM NCJRS UNDER NCJ-67800.

Annotation

THE LARGER VARIABLES OF SOCIAL CLASS PLUS THE CONDITIONS SURROUNDING ETHNIC AND CULTURAL GROUPS AFFECT INTRAPSYCHIC FUNCTIONING OF INDIVIDUALS. SUCH RESULTANT VARIABLES BEAR ON CRIME OR SOCIOPATHY.

Abstract

HUMAN REACTIONS ARE WHOLISTIC; THE WHOLE ORGANISM REACTS OR BEHAVES. IN THE U.S., SERIOUS PROBLEMS RESULT FROM CULTURE CHANGE. RELATIONSHIPS BECOME FRAGMENTED IN THE DIVERSITY OF MODERN URBAN LIFE, ISOLATING THE HOUSEHOLD. THAT PERSISTENT BASIC UNIT OF U.S. SOCIETY, THE NUCLEAR FAMILY OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN, IS APPARENTLY IN TROUBLE, BUT ITS TROUBLES OCCUR IN THE FACE OF ENORMOUS STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. THE AMERICAN FAMILY HAS CHANGED DRASTICALLY IN SIZE AND TYPE, IN LOCALE, IN MOBILITY, AND IN FUNCTIONS SINCE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION. FROM A LARGE GROUP, OFTEN COMPOSED OF PARENTS, NUMEROUS CHILDREN, AND SOMETIMES SEVERAL GENERATIONS UNDER ONE ROOF, THE FAMILY HAS BECOME MORE TEMPORARY, EVEN A LIAISON POINT OF ADULTS AND CHILDREN. FAMILY STABILITY IS FREQUENTLY ASSAILED BY BRITTLE OR FRAGILE MARRIAGES SUBJECT TO DESERTION AND DIVORCE. JUST AS CONTINUED UNEMPLOYMENT ALIENATES SOME PEOPLE FROM A WORK ETHIC, AND OTHERS BECOME ALIENATED WHEN THEY LOSE TOUCH WITH THE DIRECT PRODUCT OF THEIR TOIL OR CRAFT (AS HAS HAPPENED IN INDUSTRIALIZED SOCIETY), SO THE COMPLEXITIES OF MODERN INDUSTRIALIZATION HAVE AFFECTE FAMILY FORMS AS MEMBERS OF A FAMILY BECOME GEOGRAPHICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND ECONOMICALLY DISPERSED. ALTHOUGH HUMAN CAPACITIES FOR AFFECTION AND COOPERATION CAN AND DO EXIST OUTSIDE THE FAMILY FORMS AND WERE ONCE SUPPLEMENTARY AND SUPPORTIVE OF THE NUCLEAR FAMILY CORE IN EXTENDED FAMILIES, INTERGENERATIONAL TIES, AND CLANS, SOCIAL PLANNING HAS FAILED TO DENOTE THIS NEED AND TO INSIST ON SUBSTITUTES. STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL ALTERATIONS IN THE FAMILY HAVE A GREAT IMMEDIACY AND THREAT. THE SOCIAL DYNAMICS AFFECTING THE RESULTING PSYCHODYNAMICS THROUGH TYPICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS SYSTEMS IS THE REAL KEY TO AND AREA OF RESEARCH FOR) THE RISING RATES OF SOCIOPATHY. PEOPLE STUDIED IN THEIR SOCIAL AND CULTURAL SETTINGS WILL REVEAL THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL ILLS TO BE A DEPENDENT VARIABLE OF LARGER AND WEIGHTY, SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF EXISTENCE. EIGHTEEN REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (MHP)