Psychology of State-Sponsored Violence
State-sponsored violence has led to some of the most horrendous human right crimes such as genocide and torture. These crimes are often under the constant fire of debate as scholars try to reason as to why they occur. However, the debates of genocide and torture are not exclusively attributed to the fact that they occur, but also, as to why people participate in these acts to begin with. Contrary to popular belief the majority of participants in state-sponsored violence are often not radical extremists, but rather, ordinary people. In instances, such as the genocide in Rwanda, participants were average everyday people, often neighbors of the victims, who carried out many of the killings. Also, in cases of torture the soldiers who perform the acts are referred to as “ordinary Joes”. If it is the case that ordinary and regular people are involved in state-sponsored violence, why do they participate in the first place and what are the continuing effects they have because of their participation? In order to answer these pressing questions one must examine the sociological and psychological factors that guided people’s actions. There are different psychological features that come into play such as individual thought and how it is affected by group dynamics and authority. Moreover, the psychological features are further expanded when coupled with sociological attributions which animate the reasons behind participation in state-sponsored violence.
In certain state-sponsored violence, like torture, the “average Joe” is sought after as opposed to a rebel for the reason that an “average Joe” can ]easily be psychologically developed to be a torturer. The psychological transformation involves a restr...
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...s that come into play are sense of impunity, perception of authority figures, and group dynamics. These psychological factors along with sociological perceptions in deviance illustrate the complex environment that is present when an ordinary individual decides to participate in state-sponsored violence.
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Two articles, in particular, help clarify and explain this trend. The first is “The Genocidal Killer in the Mirror” by Crispin Sartwell, who explains how so many average people can be turned into hordes of willing and eager killers. In the case of Rwandan, Sartwell notes how the Hutu government ordered the mass-killings of the Tutsis for the “greater good” of it’s people, forcing the people to see the Tutsis as schemers and assassins to prevent personal injury to themselves and their loved ones. The other article, was Erich Fromm’s “Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem”, in which Fromm illustrates how many can be forced into becoming an automatized man, who simply does as he is told by his superiors, allowing him to become a killer without conscience. Fromm also discusses the importance of group mentality upon morality, and how when subjects are viewed as a group, they can be demonized and easily passed off as subhuman. Though both Crispin Sartwell’s article “The Genocidal Killer in the Mirror” and Erich Fromm’ piece “Disobedience as a Psychological and Moral Problem” are from two vastly different time periods, the Cold War era with its apocalyptic fears and the post- Col...
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"Rwanda Genocide 20 Years On: 'We Live with Those Who Killed Our Families. We Are Told They're Sorry, but Are They?'" The Guardian. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2013.
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Nduwimana, Francoise. "Women and Rwanda's genocide: what goes unsaid.(NEWS CLIPPINGS)." Sister Namibia 16.5-6 (Dec 2004) 38(2). Global Issues In Context. Gale. Peel District School Board All Schools. 27 Nov. 2013
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In 1951, Solomon Asch carried out several experiments on conformity. The aim of these studies was to investigate conformity in a group environment situation. The purpose of these experiments was to see if an individual would be swayed by public pressure to go along with the incorrect answer. Asch believed that conformity reflects on relatively rational process in which people are pressured to change their behaviour. Asch designed experiments to measure the pressure of a group situation upon an individual judgment. Asch wanted to prove that conformity can really play a big role in disbelieving our own senses.
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Africa has been an interesting location of conflicts. From the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea to the revolutionary conflict in Libya and Egypt, one of the greatest conflicts is the Rwandan Genocide. The Rwandan Genocide included two tribes in Rwanda: Tutsis and Hutus. Upon revenge, the Hutus massacred many Tutsis and other Hutus that supported the Tutsis. This gruesome war lasted for a 100 days. Up to this date, there have been many devastating effects on Rwanda and the global community. In addition, many people have not had many acknowledgements for the genocide but from this genocide many lessons have been learned around the world.
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Middleton, John. "Rwanda." Africa: an Encyclopedia for Students. Vol. 3. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2002. Print.