Approaches to Social Psychology Relevant to Peace Research as Developed in the FRG
In: Journal of peace research, Band 10, Heft 3, S. 305-315
ISSN: 0022-3433
3 aspects of social-psychological peace research in the Federal Republic of Germany are outlined. In the realm of political socialization & participation, the tradition of German educational theory as advanced by the educated bourgeoisie is noticeable as an obstacle to development in the social sciences. On the other hand, forms of political solidarization have arisen, particularly in the wake of the student movement, which are establishing themselves as new mediating structures between individuals & mass organizations as well as the state. They are supposed not only to check the rise of autonomous power elites & the further development of structural violence, but also to politicize topical conflicts & to represent interests in an unhypostasized manner. The discussion of the problem of aggression is primarily theoretical. A presentation is made of the difficulties nomothetic psychology has in grasping the historic dimensions of aggression, along with theoretical & metatheoretical developments of a psychoanalytic social psychology--a psychology with a conceptual framework better suited to answer the types of questions that are posed in critical peace research. A bibliography is appended. Modified Author's Summary.