The Psychology of Hatred and Mass Killing
Psychology 612
Professor Lee Jussim
(Last Updated 10/17/07)
Tillet 605, Tuesday, Noon to 2:30.
Nuclear war and
massive environmental devastation are
probably the two
human self-inflicted events with the greatest
potential for destruction. To date,
however,
the greatest actual
human-inflicted destruction on other humans has come
from mass killing,
including mass murder and genocide. This
course
will attempt to gain
some understanding of the social and psychological
processes that can lead to mass killing.
In some ways, therefore, this is a course where
we will think
about the unthinkable a great deal.
My goals in teaching this course include:
Providing a sense of the extensive nature of the problem.
Familiarizing all of us (some of this is new to me, too)
with definitions, concepts, aspects, and types of mass
killing.
Reading some of the scholarship that seeks to understand how
mass killing comes about
(sometimes, prejudice and hatred is involved; other times,
not, which is why I have finally
settled on the conjunctive title of Hatred & Mass
Killing, because you can have hatred
without mass killing and mass killing without hatred).
Reading some of the scholarship on how to prevent mass
killing.
We will seek these goals through a largely unconventional
set of readings
for a graduate course, including everything from
websites on genocide and
mass killing,
historical and biographical works, some basic social
psychology, and
some readings from other science and social science disciplines.
Sometimes,
the authors have their own political agendas,
with which I (and you) may
agree or disagree with.
They are usually here, however, not because of their politics,
but because of the facts that they do present well (in my
view).
Grading
Summaries (explained below): 20%.
Discussion leading: 40%.
Participation: 40%.
Summaries: You are required to summarize each “reading”
(defined below). This means
providing ¼ to 1/3 of a page, single spaced, typed brief
summaries of each reading required for
that week. These are
due by the start of class each week, and you are responsible for them
whether you show up or not.
A “reading” is obvious when it is something like a
chapter. Sometimes, however, I may have
you read several short chapters in a book, or read through
several pages on a website.
Therefore, the syllabus numbers each “reading” for each
week. Even when multiple
pieces fall within a single number, you are only responsible
for a single summary for all
the items listed under any one number.
PROLOGUE: THE EXTENT OF
THE PROBLEM
Week I:
Introduction
9/4
A. Class Requirements
B. My Introduction to Genocide and Mass Killing Lecture
(the only time I plan to lecture all semester)
Week 2: Definitions,
Overview 9/11
1.
http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/DBG.CHAP2.HTM
http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/GENOCIDE.ENCY.HTM
http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/WSJ.ART.HTM
2. http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Fourth_Geneva_Convention
This
provides the full text.
http://www.genevaconventions.org/
This
provides the same info as the wikipedia site, BUT, it is organized
very
differently, in some ways, making it easier to find specific stuff.
3. http://www.genocidewatch.org/aboutgenocide/whatisgenocide.htm
http://www.genocidewatch.org/aboutgenocide/8stages.htm
http://www.genocidewatch.org/aboutgenocide/genpolmmchart.htm
4. http://tmq2.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/ranking-of-death-tolls-the-66-most-lethal-conflicts-after-1950/
5. Du Preez, The Puzzle of Genocide
I. HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN? Social, political,
and psychological
bases
for support for mass killing.
Week 3: Religion
9/18
1. The End of Faith (Sam Harris):
Reason in Exile.
In the Shadow of God.
The Problem with Islam.
2. Letter to a
Christian Nation (Sam Harris)
Part 1: Letter to a Christian Nation
Part 2: Letter to a Christian Nation
Week 4: Power 9/25
0. Wafa Sultan & Ahmedinajad at
Columbia
1. Sidanius & Pratto: Social Dominance Theory
2. Altemeyer: Quest to Understand Right Wing
Authoritarianism
3. Altemeyer: Authoritarianism & Religion
Week 5: Hatred 10/2
1. Goldhagen: Evolution of Eliminationist Anti-Semitism
2. Brewer: Ingroup Identification and Intergroup Conflict
3. Altemeyer: Effects of Hate Literature
4. Glick: Choice of Scapegoats (NOT on reserve as of 8/15/07)
II. WHAT THE HELL IS
HAPPENING?
Examples of “justified” and “unjustified”
mass killings
Week 6: Mass Violence Writ
Small 10/9
1. De Waal: Violence
2. De Waal: Power (moved from Week
4)
3. White: Social and Role Identities and Political Violence
4. Trail of Tears: Wikipedia
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_of_Tears)
5. Tulsa Race
Riot: Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa_Race_Riot)
Week 7: Passivity 10/16
1. Manchester:
1931-1935
2. Manchester:
1936
3. Power: Cambodia: Helpless Giant
Week 8: More Passivity and
Some Activity 10/23
Power, S.: Rwanda: "Mostly in a Listening Mode"
Power, S. "Iraq: Human Rights and Chemical Weapons Aside"
McCullogh, D.: Truman.
III. TERRORISM
Week 9:
Introduction
to Terrorism 10/30
Townsend, C.: The Trouble with Terrorism.
Townsend, C.: Religious Terror.
Townsend, C.: Nationalism and Terror.
Week 10: Psychology of Terrorism 11/6
Pyszczynski
et al: Mortality Salience, Martyrdom, and Military Might...
Goldberg: In the Party of God.
Merari, A.: Psychological
Aspects of Suicide Terrorism
Week 11: Responding to
Terrorism
11/13
McCauley, C.: Psychological Issues in Understanding Terrorism
and the Response to Terrorism
Townsend, C.: Counterterrorism and Democracy
Kelman, H. C.: Role of National Identity in Conflict Resolution.
NO CLASS 11/20, TDAY HOLIDAY
IV. UNDERSTANDING, RESPONDING TO, AND
PREVENTING GENOCIDE
Week 12: 11/27
Du Preez: Genocides of Colonization and Decolonization
Du Preez: Politicide
Du Preez: Purifying the Nation
Marchak: Why do States Kill Citizens?
Week 13: 12/4
Power, S.: Lemkin's Courtroom Legacy
Power, S.: Conclusion
Du Preez: Explaining Genocide
Rummel: http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/WF.CHAP8.HTM
Week 14: 12/11
No readings (Lee
& Heather lead):
Can we develop a Model of the Social and Psychological processes
leading INDIVIDUALS to support or participate in genocide and mass
murder?