At the Roots of Violence the Progressive Decline and Dissolution of the Family

Abstract

The authors reflect on the origin of the family and its traditional dynamic force in the social and moral education, and in the affective support and protection of its members. They expound on their thesis that since the institution of the family is progressively crumbling under the pressures of ever changing socioeconomic events, people feel more insecure and frustrated. It is their belief that the present day family often does not pass on to its members those traditional high moral values of honesty and responsibility so important for good citizenship and self-esteem, and that the above, compounded by unemployment and the widespread presence of psychoactive drugs in our streets, may be a basic factor in the upsurge of violence and criminal behavior in our homes and our cities. Sociological and psychological thoughts are offered in support of their theories on the importance of the family as a germ-cell of society. Even though violence in the streets is multifactorial and the too easy availability of guns and the drug culture are certainly important factors, the authors believe that the progressive disintegration of the family and its value deficit are basic to the problem of disruptive violence in our streets. They envision a modern functional family whose members uphold personal responsibility together with cultural, religious, and moral values. They believe that their adherence to the above values would enable them to be better motivated and disciplined for good citizenship. Crime would then be fought at its roots.