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The Sociology of Genosuicide

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The Sociology of Genosuicide THE SOCIOLOGY OF GENOSUICIDE by Nicholas George Petryszak B.A. (Honors! Simon Framer University, 1974. A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology @ NICHOLAS GEORGE PBTRYSZAK SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY AUGUST 1975 All rights reserved, This thesis may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. APP ROVAL Name: Nicholas George Petryszak Degree: Master of Arts Title of Thesis: ,The Sociology of Genosuicide Examining Committee: Chairman: Dr. Marilyn Gates Dr. Karl Peter Senior Supervisor -- Dr. Heribert Adam a Dr. Ian Whitaker - .- - - - -/ Prof. Dale Bratton External Examiner Instructor - Dept. of Political Science Simon Fraser University Date Approved: R 197S. PARTIAL COPYRIGHT LICENSE I hereby grant to Simon Fraser University the right to lend my thesis or dissertation (the title of which is shown below) to usere of the Simon Fraser University Library, and to make partial or single copies only for-such users or in response to a request from the library sf any other university, or other educational institution, on its 'own behalf or for one of its users. I further agree that permission for multiple copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by me or the Dean of Graduate Studies. It is understood that copying or publication of this thesis for financial gain shall not be allowed without my writ ten permission, Title of Thesis /~issertation : The Sociology of Genosuicide Author: , -. * Nicholas George Petrvszak (name ) November 24, 1975. (date ) - iii - ABSTRACT This thesis is concerned with the sociological variables contributing to mass self-destruction. It attempts a macro analysis of the social phenomenon of genosuicide and offers a heuristic model of genosuicide as part of the general processes of cultural development and decline. The hypothesis to be investigated states that culturai petrification refers to the domination of certain elites corres- ponding to a lack of adaptation to changes in society. Geno- suicide is a mass behavioral reaction of human individuals to a state of cultural petrification. Large scale destructive drug use for example may be understood as being symptomatic of the processes of genosuicide. The data utilized in this thesis are sociological,concepts and processes based on historical occurrences. The sociological approach which is employed here reviews the changing composition of the social, cultural and personality systems and subsystems particular to the Ch'ing Dynasty. The development of opium use during this period as well as the consequences and implications of such drug use are examined. A number of sociological variables, characteristic of this society were found to be correlated with large scale destructive drug use which is in turn indicative of the procesees of geno- suicide. For Sandra What can oppose the decline of the west is not a resurrected culture but the utopia that is silently contained in the image of its decline. * Theodor W. Adorno * Adorno, Theodor W.; Prisms (Neville Spearman; London; 1967) P.72 I would like to acknowledge my gratitude for Dr. Karl Peter's and Dr. Heribert Adam's diligent supervision of this work, their helpful suggestions and most importantly their patience. - vii - TABLE OF CONTENTS APPROVAL .......................................... ii ABSTRACT ....**............................o..**.-* iii INTRODUCTION: GENOCIDE AND GENOSUICIDE .............. CHAPTER I: GENOSUICIDE, CULTURAL PETRIFICATION AND ELITES ............................ 1. The Social Psychological Consequences of Cultural Petrification .......... 2. Culture and Elites - An Overview ... 3. Genosuicide and Drug Use ........... 4. Statement of Hypothesis ............ 5. The Hypothesis as a Socio-Cultural Rhythm ............................. 6. Methodological Note I - Analytical Orientation ...................,.... 7. Methodological Note I1 - The Data .. 8. Genocide and Genosuicide As Related to Social Psychological and Sociological Premises .............. 42 CHAPTER 11: AN EXAMINATION OF THE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE OCCURRENCE OF GENOCIDE ....,,... 50 1, The Transition from Anxiety to Fear, 53 2. The Transition from Anxiety to Fear as Related to Elites ............... 54 3. Historically Defined Scapegoat Minorities ......................... 56 4. Other Factors Contributing to the Occurrence of Genocide ............. 57 - viii - 5. The Occurrence of Genocide as Related to Socio-Structural, Cultural and Social Psychological Inhibitions .... 60 6. Genocide and the Dynamics of C~llective Behavior ............................ 65 " 7. Scapegoating ........................ 8 1 CHAPTER 111: GENOSUICZDE ............................ 89 1. Sorokin's Systems and Dynamics of Systems ............................. 9? 2. Cultural Petrification and Elites - Some Comcepts ....................... 94 3. Principle of Immanent Change and the Principle of Limits ................. 97 6. Genosulcide and the Ch'ing Dynasty.. 102- 5, Genosuicide and the Processes of Civilization ....................... 104 6. The Alleviation of Anxiety as Related to Genocide and Genosuicide ........ 109 7. Anxiety As The Dynamo of Social Life ............................... 113 CHAPTER IV: GENOSUICIDE AS RELATED TO OPIUM USE IN THE CH'ING DYNASTY .................... 115- 1. Sociology and Historical Analysis ........................... 117 2. The Traditional Use of Opium In China .............................. 118- 3. Britain and 'the Opium Trade ........ 120. 4. China's Policy of Isolation ........ 122 5. Disorder, Oisruption 6 Crisis In The Ch'ing Dynasty ..................... 127 6. The Cultural Petrification of the Ch'ing Dynasty ..................... 131 CHAPTER V: CULTURAL PETRIFICATION AND ELITES IN THE CH'ING DYNASTY - A SYSTEMATIC EVALUATION 1. The Mode of Selection by Which the Mandarin Elite Was Recruited From The Mass ............................ 2. The Inner Structure of the Mandarin Elite Groups and Their Relation to Society at Large .................... 3. The Social Distance Between the Elite and the Masses ...................... 4. The Cultural Ideals Produced By the Mandarin Elite Group ................ CHAPTER VI: THE PROCESSES OF GENOSUICIDE - CULTURAL PETRIFICATION, ANOMIE AND OPIUM USE IN THE CH'ING DYNASTY ..................... 1. Sen and the Chinese Family Struct- ure ................................. 2, The Causal Determinants of Anxiety as Related to Opium Use ................ 3. The Inability of Chinese Family and State to Realize Jen ................ 4. Anomie, Retreatiem and Opium Uee .... 5. Inner Modification and the Availa- bility of Meane ..................... 6. Genosuicide and Opium Use ........... 7. The British Opium Trade-Exchange and Power ............................... CHAPTER VIf: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE RESEARCH EPILOGUE: A HEURISTIC CONSID~RATIONOF SOME FACILITATING FACTORS LEADING TO DRUG USE IN MODERN NORTH AMERICAN POST-INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY ..................... 1. Culture as Commodity ..................... 2. Symptoms of Cultural Decline ............. 3. The Refusal and The Collective Search For Identity ............................ 4. General Cultural Predisposing Factors Contributing to Drug Use ................. 5. Repressive Tolerance and Cultural Petrification.............................. CHAPTER 11: ELITES & SOCIO-CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN CONTEMPORAR~ NORTH AMERICAN POST- INDUSTIRAL SOCIETY .......................... 1. The Mode of Selection By Which North American Elites are Recruited Prom the Masses........................... 2. The Inner Structure of Various Elite Groups ............................. 3. The Social Distance Between the Elite and the Mass in North America ...... 4. The Popular Cultural Ideals Produced By The Various North American Elite Groups ................................... CHAPTER 111: THE GENOSUICIDAL IMPLICATIONS OF DRUG USE IN MODERN NORTH AMERICAN POST- INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY ........................ 1. Self-Blame and the Negation of objective Social Change .................. 2. Self-Modification, Self-Aggression and Drug Use ...............,............a 3. The Addicted Society ..................... 4. Drug Use and The Alleviation of Anxiety ............................... 5, Drug Use & Genosuicide in North America ................................. - xi - CHAPTER IV: CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE RESEARCH ..... ..... 281 BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................... 287 -1- INTRODUCTION: GENOCIDE AND GEAOSUICIDE The central focus of this discussion shall be twofold. First to provide a schematic overview as to the more typical structuxal and social psychological contributory factors necessary to the development and initiation of genocide generally. Secondly to outline a working definition, and con- ceptualization of the predisposing conditions leading to the occurrence of genosuicide. The propensity to commit an overtly aggressive act such aa genocide is determined by an intricate network of contribut- ory factors. This network is comprised of a synthesis of certain structural-sociological and social psychological facili- tating conditions of aggressive and genocidal behavior formulated by Vahakn N. Dadrian and Konrad Lorenz; outlined by (among others) Herbert Blumer. These factors will be defined within a wider framework of analysis based on the understanding of man's continuing need for...'an assurance of eternal survival for his eelf'. This is an assurance that is realized in
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