Declaration of the German Psychoanalytical Society (Deutsche Psychoanalytische Gesellschaft DPG) on Violence, Hatred of Foreigners and Racism

The members of the German Psychoanalytical Society (DPG) are deeply shocked by the violence against foreigners and refugees. They express their sympathy with the victims of those crimes. They are appalled by the desecration of Jewish cemeteries and memorials and are worried about racism and intolerance which brought the deepest misery to people in Germany and throughout Europe in the past.

Members of the DPG express their solidarity by supporting work with foreigners and refugees through a contribution to the Federation of Initiatives of Foreigners in Germany (Verband der Ausländerinitiativen in Deutschland). They also declare that they are prepared to support the work of those taking care of foreigners by offering them free counselling.

The German Psychoanalytical Society calls for the governme nt's determination to protect life and security of all people living in Germany by adequate use of the existing legal means. Uncertainty and indecision promote insecurity and thereby lead to an escalation of violence.

Proneness to violence is due to a low capacity to tolerate aggression both within oneself and from others. Many of the violent young people themselves come from families in which they experienced violence as a natural means of solving conflicts. Many have been victims of pedagogic violence. For most of them it is alien to understand tensions as expressions of fear and conflicts. By attacking the weak they obtain a feeling of strength which hides their feeling of insecurity.

The growing radicalism and proneness to violence forces us to reconsider the conditions of children's development. Instead of one-sidedly thinking in terms of competition and achievement, which shuts out the weak and promotes intolerance, the basic orientation of upbringing should be mutual responsibility.

Teachers and educators must have support in dealing with individual crises and conflicts of children in a differentiating way. Thus they can further the children's ability to cope with conflict