Psychological
Roots of Genocide & Mass Killings
PS 474
Political Psychology, Peffley
I.
Definitions (from Ervin Staub, The Roots of Evil: The Origins of Genocide and Other Group Violence)
A.
Genocide:
Genocide is an attempt to eliminate a whole group of people, either directly by
killing them, or indirectly by creating conditions that lead to their death or
prevent reproduction (e.g., starvation or preventing births)
B.
Mass
killing: killing large numbers of people without the apparent intent to
eliminate a whole group to intimidate and establish dominance over a group
C.
Characteristics
of intractable intergroup conflict
1.
Protracted
2.
Violent
3.
Total
4.
Zero-sum
nature
II.
Origins, dynamics
& maintenance of mass violence
A.
Difficult
life conditions that threaten basic goals and needs
1.
Hard
times make people feel threatened and frustrated, which can give rise to the
desire to harm others
B.
Psychological
Processes that Contribute to Mass Violence
1.
Strong
Identification with a Group
2.
Scapegoating
3.
Ideologies
and Societal Beliefs
4.
Devaluation
and deligitimization
5.
Past
Victimization & Collective Memory
6.
Societal
conditions that make mass killings more likely:
a)
Strong
Respect for Authority
b)
Monolithic,
Nondemocratic Societies
