Psychology of State-Sponsored Violence Essay -- Human Rights

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 â€Å"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 â€Å"average Joe† is sought after as opposed to a rebel for the reason that an â€Å"average Joe† can ]easily be psychologically developed to be a torturer. The psychological transformation involves a restr... ...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. Works Cited Asch, S. E., (1951) Effects of group pressure upon the modification and distortion of judgments. Brehm, S. S. & Kassin, S. M. (1993) Social Psychology, p.399 (2nd ed.). Boston: HughtonMifflin. Fujii, Lee Ann. Killing Neighbors: Webs of Violence in Rwanda. Cornell University Press, 2009. 45-75;154-179. Print. Hatzfeld, Jean. Machete season: the killers in Rwanda speak : a report. Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2005. 45-75; 154-79. Print. Schulz, William. "Torture." Human Rishts: Politics and Practice. Oxford University Press, 2009. Print.