Decivilising Processes: Theoretical Significance and Some Lines of Research

Abstract

Decivilising processes are what happens when civilising processes go into reverse; both terms are used here in a specific technical sense derived from the work of Norbert Elias ( The Civilising Process, 2 vols., 1978/1982, orig. 1939). The first part of the paper briefly sketches aspects of the theory of civilising processes necessary for identifying symptoms of their reversal. It is inferred that true decivilising processes would be marked by breaking links and shorter chains of social interdependence, associated with higher levels of danger and incalculability in everyday life, the re-emergence of violence into the public sphere and a decline in mutual identification, reduced pressures on individuals to restrain the expression of impulses (including the freer expression of aggressiveness), changes in socialisation and personality formation, and increasing fantasy-content of modes of knowledge. The second part of the paper examines evidence relating to four candidates for the label `decivilising process'. The debate about the `permissive society' suggests that this was `decivilising' in a very limited sense: it involved a `highly controlled decontrolling of emotional controls'. Evidence of an upturn in violence in contemporary United States and British society is examined next; the data of Gurr, Stone and Dunning suggest the longterm trend was until recently downwards. The Holocaust and other instances of mass murder are discussed next. Finally, it is proposed that the clearest cases of decivilising processes would be those where trends could be observed over at least three generations; evidence should be sought in the collapse of complex societies (such as the Roman Empire) and episodes such as the Thirty Years War and its aftermath, and the so-called `Wild West'.

(Re)civilizing the Young Driver: Technization and Emotive Automobility

“…For Elias, civilizing processes also have de-civilizing counterpoints. Thus, although civilizing processes have largely been dominant in the history of humankind, at any given time they can balance each other out, or one can become more dominant (Mennell 1990). Moreover, 'civilizing and de-civilizing changes in a society can follow each other in varied sequence' (Elias 1995, 9).…”

¿Pánicos morales como procesos civilizatorios y descivilizatorios? Un debate comparativo

“…As many authors, such as Mennell (1990) and Fletcher (1997), have explored, decivilising processes may occur where there is a weakening of the state, for example, in the aftermath of social or natural crises. But for moral panics to occur, there need not necessarily be an actual weakening, only a perceived weakening.…”

“…To date, decivilising processes have been conceptualised as civilising processes in reverse (Mennell, 1990), occurring where there is an increase in actual danger and a decrease in the calculability of danger. Conversely, as we have seen above, some moral panics occur where there is only a perceived, and not necessarily an actual, increase in danger.…”

“…Research on decivilising (and dyscivilising) processes in particular tends to focus on the role of violence -on its monopolisation and de-monopolisation by a central state authority (for example, see de Swaan, 2001;Fletcher, 1997;Mennell, 1990). However, as the cases discussed above suggest, as does the development of moral panics more generally, the monopolisation and de-monopolisation of knowledge can also play a prominent role in the development of decivilising processes.…”

(In)formalization and the Civilizing Process: Applying the Work of Norbert Elias to Housing‐Based Anti‐Social Behaviour Interventions in the UK

“…and an increasing population (Mennell, 1990). As these social processes developed there was a corresponding change in the psychological make-up of individuals: a process of psychologisation whereby "more people are forced more often to pay more attention to more other people" (Goudsblom, quoted in Mennell, 1990: 209 (Wouters, 1986:11 -our emphasis).…”