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PSYCHIATRIC ASPECTS OF BANDITRY (FROM MODERN ASPECTS OF BANDITRY 1975 - SEE NCJ-55978)

NCJ Number
55980
Author(s)
P HIVERT
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
PSYCHOLOGICAL MODELS ARE USED TO EXPLAIN BANDITRY.
Abstract
PRINCIPAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN STUDYING BANDITRY ARE THE LACK OF ANY LITERATURE ON THE SUBJECT AND THE IMPRECISION ON THE TERMS 'BANDIT' AND 'BANDITRY.' MODERN BANDITRY EXTENDS TO AGGRESSIVE ACTS AGAINST INDIVIDUALS (E.G., HOLDUPS, MURDER ATTEMPTS WITH EXPLOSIVES, TAKING OF HOSTAGES, OR KIDNAPPING TO ACHIEVE POLITICAL ENDS, TO FACILITATE ESCAPE, OR TO OBTAIN A RANSOM). THE TAKING OF HOSTAGES INVOLVES A NEW OFFENDER-VICTIM RELATIONSHIP: THE HOSTAGES ARE THE CENTRAL FOCUS OF NEGOTIATIONS BUT THEY REMAIN PASSIVE NONPARTICIPANTS. KIDNAPPERS CONDUCT THEIR PART OF THE DIALOGUE, FLAUNTING WEAPONS AND HOSTAGES IN AN ALMOST SUICIDAL MANNER. THE PARTIES CHALLENGED, WHO MUST RESPOND FROM A DISTANCE, ARE USUALLY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE CHARGED WITH MAINTAINING ORDER BUT REQUIRED TO ATTACK IN SELF-DEFENSE. THIS FORM OF CRIME IS CHARACTERIZED BY VIOLENCE COMING BOTH FROM INDIVIDUALS' AGGRESSIVE BIOLOGICAL INSTINCTS AND FROM INDIVIDUALS' PSYCHOLOGICAL DESIRES TO IDENTIFY WITH A PARTICULAR VIOLENT MODEL. THE FRUSTRATION EXPERIENCED BY THE OFFENDERS MAY BE INFLUENCED BY PERSONALITY STRUCTURE, SOCIOCULTURAL ELEMENTS, OR CHROMOSOMAL ANOMALIES. CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES DOES NOT FOLLOW A TYPICAL PATTERN. PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL MECHANISMS ALONE CANNOT EXPLAIN THE PHENOMENON OF BANDITRY AND THE PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL APPROACH CANNOT FURNISH SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ANSWERS TO FURTHER QUESTIONS, I.E., WHETHER LONG PRISON TERMS WILL INCREASE FRUSTRATION, WHETHER A VIOLENT REACTION TO VIOLENCE WILL LEAD TO FURTHER ESCALATION AND MURDER, WHETHER CAPITAL PUNISHMENT SERVES AS A DETERRENT FOR SUICIDAL SUBJECTS, AND WHETHER THE MASS MEDIA AGGRAVATE OR IMPROVE THE SITUATION. --IN FRENCH. (KMD)

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