The Roots of Evil
The Origins of Genocide and Other Group Violence

Erwin Staub explores the psychology of group aggression, sketching a conceptual framework for the many influences on one group's desire to harm another.

Ervin Staub (Author)

9780521422147, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 31 July 1992

354 pages
23.4 x 15.6 x 1.9 cm, 0.52 kg

"...methodical and well done...a well-written, scholarly-researched book." George B. Palermo, International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology

How can human beings kill or brutalise multitudes of other human beings? Focusing particularly on genocide, Erwin Staub explores the psychology of group aggression. He sketches a conceptual framework for the many influences on one group's desire to harm another and within this framework, considers four historical examples of genocide.

Preface
Acknowledgments
Part I. Psychological and Cultural Bases of Genocide and Other Forms of Group Violence: 1. An introduction
2. The origins of genocide and mass killing: core concepts
3. The psychology of hard times: the effects of difficult life conditions
4. Cultural and individual characteristics
5. The psychology of perpetrators: individuals and groups
6. Steps along a continuum of destruction: perpetrators and bystanders
Part II. The Nazi Holocaust: 7. Hitler comes to power
8. Preconditions for the Holocaust in German culture
9. Nazi rule and steps along the continuum of destruction
10. The SS and the psychology of perpetrators
11. The behaviour and psychology of bystanders and victims
Part III. Other Genocides and Mass Killings: 12. The Turkish genocide of the Armenians
13. Cambodia: genocide to create a better world
14. This disappearances: mass killing in Argentina
15. Summary and conclusions: the societal and psychological origins of genocide and other atrocities
Part IV. Further Extensions: The Roots of War and the Creation of Caring and Nonaggressive Persons and Societies: 16. The cultural and psychological origins of war
17. The nature of groups: security, power, justice, and positive connection
18. The creation and evolution of caring, connection, and nonaggression
Notes
Index.

Subject Areas: Social, group or collective psychology [JMH]