The Armageddon Complex: Dynamics of Opinion.

The poll data provide evidence of a growing disposition on the part of many Americans to assume that war is necessary or inevitable. In this article, the author argues that this disposition may actually reflect a wish for war as a means of resolving the international crisis. The author calls this frame of mind "The Armageddon Complex," and presents survey findings which suggest that it is related to frustrations, particularly in the individual's future outlook. Sex and religion also appear to be significantly related factors. With reference to the article in recapitulating the findings, certain points stand out. The researchers first that almost half of their samples favored a showdown now with Russia, even at the risk of all-out war. It was suggested that this attitude, which they labelled "the Armageddon complex" involves an underlying wish for war. There is some indication that this attitude has a certain uniqueness, and that it is far from identical with a generally anti-Communist attitude.