The Psychology of Genocide, Massacres, and Extreme Violence: Why Normal People Come to Commit Atrocities

The Psychology of Genocide, Massacres, and Extreme Violence: Why Normal People Come to Commit Atrocities

by Donald G. Dutton
ISBN-10:
0275990001
ISBN-13:
9780275990008
Pub. Date:
05/30/2007
Publisher:
Bloomsbury Academic
ISBN-10:
0275990001
ISBN-13:
9780275990008
Pub. Date:
05/30/2007
Publisher:
Bloomsbury Academic
The Psychology of Genocide, Massacres, and Extreme Violence: Why Normal People Come to Commit Atrocities

The Psychology of Genocide, Massacres, and Extreme Violence: Why Normal People Come to Commit Atrocities

by Donald G. Dutton

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Overview

Chronicling horrific events that brought the 20th century to witness the largest number of systematic slaughters of human beings in any century across history, this work goes beyond historic details and examines contemporary psychological means that leaders use to convince individuals to commit horrific acts in the name of a politial or military cause. Massacres in Nanking, Rwanda, El Salvador, Vietnam, and other countries are reviewed in chilling detail. But the core issue is what psychological forces are behind large- scale killing; what psychology can be used to indoctrinate normal people with a Groupthink that moves individuals to mass murder brutally and without regret, even when the victims are innocent children. Dutton shows us how individuals are convinced to commit such sadistic acts, often preceded by torture, after being indoctrinated with beliefs that the target victims are unjust, inhuman or viral, like a virus that must be destroyed or it will destroy society.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780275990008
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date: 05/30/2007
Series: Praeger Security International
Pages: 216
Product dimensions: 6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

Donald G. Dutton is Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia. A Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Dutton has researched violence in forensic and domestic situations across 30 years. He has led court-mandated treatment groups for violent offenders, interviewed spousal killers, and authored four books plus more than 100 articles on the psychological mechanisms of violence perpetrators. Dutton has appeared on Dateline NBC, Larry King Live, National Public Radio, and Good Morning America.

What People are Saying About This

Philip G. Zimbardo

"In this century of mass violence with millions of people massacred around the world, we need to learn from the vital lessons contained in Dutton's wise analysis of the causes, consequences and solutions of these crimes against humanity."

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