NCJ Number
59642
Journal
Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: (1976) Pages: 341-350
Date Published
1976
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THIS WIDE-RANGING, QUESTION-AND-ANSWER SESSION TOUCHES BRIEFLY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VIOLENCE AND RACISM, WAYS OF REDUCING VIOLENCE IN FAMILIES, THE ROLE OF SPORTS IN VIOLENCE, AND ORGANIC CAUSES OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
THE SEVERAL SPEAKERS AGREE THAT DISPERSAL OF ECONOMICALLY DEPRIVED FAMILIES OFTEN REDUCES VIOLENCE BECAUSE THE FAMILIES ADOPT THE VALUE SYSTEMS OF THE MORE PLACID MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE AROUND THEM. FAMILY THERAPY IS THE TREATMENT OF CHOICE BECAUSE VIOLENCE IS DUE TO COMPLEX INTERACTIONS, NOT JUST THE PATHOLOGY OF ONE FAMILY MEMBER. THE ROLES OF SPORTS AND TELEVISION IN PROMOTING VIOLENCE ARE UNCERTAIN. FOR SOME INDIVIDUALS, THESE ACTIVITIES PROVIDE A FORM OF RELEASE, WHILE FOR OTHERS, FEELINGS OF AGGRESSION ARE STIMULATED. STERILIZATION AND DRUG TREATMENT ARE FALLING FROM FAVOR. SINCE STERILIZATION HAD BEEN OVERUSED AS A TREATMENT FOR VIOLENT OFFENDERS AND MANY DRUGS HAVE AFTEREFFECTS WHICH ARE UNPREDICTABLE. THE INCREASE IN FEMALE-HEADED FAMILIES IS BRINGING ABOUT CHANGES IN SOCIETY'S PERCEPTION OF MASCULINITY; THE LONG-TERM EFFECT OF THIS TREND ON FAMILY VIOLENCE IS UNKNOWN. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT LATIN AMERICA HAS A MUCH GREATER INCIDENCE OF VIOLENCE THAN DOES THE UNITED STATES, THAT VIOLENCE WILL DECREASE AS THE PROPORTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE POPULATION DECREASES, AND THAT ASSASSINATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE NEARLY ALWAYS DUE TO PERSONAL MENTAL PATHOLOGY AND NOT TRUE DESIRE FOR POLITICAL REFORM. THE SESSION ENDED WITH A DESCRIPTION OF POLICE-CITIZEN RELATIONSHIPS IN JAPAN AND THE NONVIOLENT JAPANESE FAMILY. (GLR)