Effects and Ramifications
Political and social effects The impact of cruelty and violence either within families or across nations interferes with all other efforts to produce healthy, just, and compassionate societies. Following the “cycle of damage” on the individual, family, and societal levels, we can trace the path from neglect, trauma, repression, brain damage, and group pressure toward hate, extremism, and acts of terror or collective violence. Nations or societies in denial or projection In this section, we examine how nations as a whole, as well as individuals, tend to deny the destructive things they have done, and ignore or dismiss the effects of their deeds. During the 20th century, many examples of unimaginable brutality were committed on a mass scale. After the wreckage, entire societies struggled to face the fact that both officials and citizens participated in committing atrocities against neighbors, families, children, and each other. Human history is a long study in how to make excuses for horror and injustice. And, in each case when we step back and examine the professed reasons behind why certain atrocities were committed, or unjust policies institutionalized, we find fallacies of reasoning, and distorted beliefs that had somehow infiltrated into the system, and became a rationale for these actions. The official line usually places blame onto scapegoats within a society or presumed enemies outside of it. War as an excuse A group responding to a real or perceived threat to its security or status calls its actions “acts of war” or “acts of defense.” In this way, those in authority, whether be they state officials, rebel leaders, or terrorists, can rationalize abuses of power. Thus, authorities can act with impunity and commit acts of torture, mass murder, and other atrocities; all is excused automatically and they can avoid having to make reparations. The World Court must be given the authority to address war crimes committed by all nations. And all nations must be pressed to sign and enforce covenants, charters and manifestos that protect human rights. |
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- Home
- Overview
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Understanding Hate
- Introduction
- What is Hate? >
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The Roots of Hate
>
- Early Imprints >
- What Are We Doing To Our Children? >
- Effects of Trauma and Abuse >
- Causes and Effects of Bullying
- Trauma, bigotry, violence linked
- Authoritarian Upbringings >
- Absolutism and Insularity >
- Papers: Early Roots of Prejudice
- Impaired Cognition >
- The Violent Brain >
- Roots of Violence and Cruelty >
- Ghosts of the Past >
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How Hate Manifests
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- Hate in the News >
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Group Influence
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- Social Defenses >
- Fanning the Flames >
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How We Fool Ourselves
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Brain and Belief
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- Search for Certainty >
- Index: All Biases, Distortions and Influences
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Overcoming Hate
- Overview of Topics
- Introduction
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Prevention
>
- Education >
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Intervention
>
- Social Support and Inclusion >
- Helping Children in Dire Conditions >
- Preventing Violence and Bullying >
- Standing Up To Prejudice, Racism, and Bigotry >
- Training Our Protectors >
- Healing the Hurt >
- Educating Our Leaders >
- Resolving Conflict >
- Israel-Palestine >
- Promoting Dignity >
- Healing the Ghosts of the Past >
- Restorative Justice >
- Confronting Mass Atrocities >
- Social Advances >
- More Solutions >
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Resources
- Tools