Psychology of State-Sponsored Violence Essay -- Human Rights

Psychology of State-Sponsored ViolenceState-sponsored abandon has led to some of the most direful human right crimes such as genocide and torture. These crimes are oft under the constant fire of debate as scholars try to author as to why they occur. However, the debates of genocide and torture are not solo 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 bear on in state-sponsored violence, why do they participate in the first domicile and what are the continuing effects they have because of their participation? In dress to answer these pressing questions one must examine the sociological and mental factors that guided peoples actions. There are different mental features that sire into play such as individual thought and how it is change by group dynamics and authority. Moreover, the mental features are further spread out 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 fence 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... ...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 environs that is present when an ordinary individual decides to participate in state-sponsored violence. Works CitedAsch, 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 side Ann. Killing Neighbors Webs of Violence in Rwanda. Cornell University Press, 2009. 45-75154-179. Print. Hatzfeld, Jean. Machete season the killers in Rwanda blab out a report. Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2005. 45-75 154-79. Print. Schulz, William. Torture. Human Rishts Politics and Practice. Oxford University Press, 2009. Print.