Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 2002. Vol. 8. Eger Journal of American Studies.(Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 28)

Studies - András Tarnóc: Violence as Cultural Projection: The Sociological, Psychological, and Epistemological Implications of the Jamestown Massacre

ication skills by arranging the attack. The fact that the settlers moved far from each other compromised their security in addition to displaying a rather relaxed attitude concerning the protection of the colony. The looming loss of Indian land, traditional life style and spirituality functioned as direct situational factors. Following Crenshaw's organizational approach model holding that acts of terrorism are committed by groups who reach collective decisions via commonly held or shared beliefs while the degree of individual commitment to the group's objective varies, the divergent intensity of the killing and brutality can be examined (Hudson http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/frd/). Smith reporting on the escape of such settlers as Nathaniel Causie, "they hurt not any that did either fight or stand upon their guard" (295) reinforces the varying intensity of individual commitment to the goals outlined by Opechancanaugh. The commonly held belief is the enemy image of the settlers, the random acts of violence demonstrate the diverse degree of commitment to group objectives. According to David G. Hubbard's physiological approach terrorist acts can be regarded as a "stereotyped, agitated, tissue response to stress" (Hudson http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/frd/) making Opechancanaugh's actions qualify as a response to the stress brought on by the threat of cultural dislocation. Hubbard also points out the defining role of the fight or flight syndrome

, an experience Opechancanaugh definitely had undergone in the rough treatment suffered in the hands of John Smith previously. One of the most interesting research tools is provided by the psychological approach. Three hypotheses appear to be applicable in this case. Ted Robert Gurr's (1970) and J. C. Davies' (1973) Frustration-Aggression hypothesis holds that violence is caused by the so-called revolution of rising expectations, or a gap between increasing demands and need satisfaction (Hudson http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/frd/). The fact that the relationship between the Indians and settlers in Jamestown appeared peaceful in the surface increased the Indians' expectation for fair and dignified treatment and created an expectation gap, eventually leading to the violence. Inspired by Erikson, Jeanne N. Knutson elaborated a Negative Identity hypothesis suggesting a "vindictive rejection of a role regarded as desirable and proper by an individual's family and community" 253