The phenomenology of vigilantism in contemporary America

An interpretation

Bibliographic Data

ID7102374
AuthorsPeter C Sederberg (University of South Carolina, corresponding author)
Year1978
Volume1
Issue3-4
Pages287-305
Publication date1978-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueTerrorism (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0149-0389 • E-ISSN: 2378-5608
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10576107808435415
OpenAlexW2011927049
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited16

Vigilante violence is studied, defined, and delineated from a phenomenological stance. An interpretation of American vigilantism is developed: violence is intended by the perpetrators to maintain and defend, rather than change, the established sociopolitical order. Four major types of vigilantism are discussed: (1) private, spontaneous vigilantism; 2) private, organized vigilantism; (3) official, spontaneous vigilantism; and (4) official, organized vigilantism. The main objective of vigilantism is the preservation of social stability in the face of innovative behavior. It is often a reaction to the widening range of officially tolerated innovation and the existence of state‐sponsored innovation. Besides a study of the typification of motivation, the article deals with the vigilante personality

Criminology · Epistemology · Interpretation (philosophy · Personality · Phenomenology (philosophy · Political science · Sociology · Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice · Law · Philosophy · Political Philosophy and Ethics · Psychology · Social Psychology · Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence

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