Readings collective violence 2024
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,Lecture 1: welcome and introductions
Belavadi, S., Rinella, (2020). When social identity-defining groups become violent (Chapter 2)
Theoretical Perspectives
1. Social Identity Theory: suggests that individuals derive part of their self-esteem from their group memberships.
When groups feel threatened, members may engage in violence to protect their identity and status.
2. Dehumanization: involves viewing out-group members as less than human. When people dehumanize others, it
becomes easier to justify violence against them: they are seen as not deserving of empathy/moral consideration.
3. Collective Victimhood: Groups may perceive themselves as victims of injustice can fuel anger and desire for
revenge against perceived oppressors. This narrative can mobilize group members to commit acts of violence.
Mechanisms Leading to Violence
- Us vs. Them Mentality:strong division between in-groups (us) and out-groups (them) can escalate tensions.
When groups see each other as fundamentally different, it can lead to hostility and violence.
- Leadership and Mobilization: Charismatic leaders can exploit group identities and fears to mobilize members for
collective violence. They often use rhetoric: emphasizes threats from out-groups and promotes sense of urgency.
- Identity Uncertainty: When individuals feel uncertain about their identity, they may seek clarity through group
affiliation. This can lead to extreme behaviors as individuals strive to reinforce their group’s superiority.
Key Terms and Concepts
- Social Identity Theory: framework for understanding how group membership affects self-esteem and behavior.
- Dehumanization: process of perceiving others as less than human, which can justify violence.
- Collective Victimhood: shared belief among group members they have been wronged desire for retribution.
- Us vs. Them Mentality: mindset that divides people into opposing groups, often leading to conflict.
- Identity Uncertainty: confusion about one’s social identityindividuals seek clarity through group affiliation.
Questions to Test Knowledge
1. What is collective violence, and how is it defined in the article?
Collective violence is when groups of people commit violent acts against other groups or individuals. The article explains it
as violence that arises from group identities and conflicts.
2. Explain Social Identity Theory and its relevance to collective violence.
Social Identity Theory says that people get part of their self-esteem from being in groups. When groups feel threatened,
members may act violently to protect their identity and status.
3. How does dehumanization contribute to justifying violence against out-groups?
Dehumanization makes people see others as less than human. When out-group members are viewed this way, it becomes
easier to justify harming them because they are seen as undeserving of empathy.
4. What role does collective victimhood play in mobilizing groups for violence?
Collective victimhood occurs when a group sees itself as the only victim of injustice. This belief can create anger and a desire
for revenge, motivating group members to commit violent acts against perceived oppressors .
5. Describe the "us vs. them" mentality and its impact on intergroup relations.
"us vs. them" mentality divides people into two opposing groups. This mindset can increase hostility and conflict, making it
harder for groups to understand or empathize with each other.
6. How can charismatic leaders influence group behavior in the context of violence?
can inspire/mobilize group members: using strong messages that emphasize threats from out-groups. They can rally people
to take action, including violent actions, to protect their group.
7. What is identity uncertainty, and how does it affect individuals' actions within groups?
Identity uncertainty is when people feel confused about who they are in relation to their group. This uncertainty can lead
individuals to seek clarity by strongly identifying with their group, sometimes resulting in extreme behaviors.
8. Why important to understand the psychological dynamics of group identity in preventing collective violence?
helps us see why groups may act violently. By recognizing the factors that lead to conflict, we can find better ways to
prevent violence and promote peace.
9. example of a real-world event that illustrates the concepts discussed in the article?
Example is the Rwandan Genocide, where ethnic divisions led to extreme violence. The Hutu majority saw the Tutsi minority
as a threat, leading to dehumanization and collective violence .
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,10. How can the insights from this article be applied to address current issues of collective violence in society?
create programs that promote understanding and empathy between groups: addressing identity issues and reducing
dehumanization, we can work towards preventing collective violence in society.
Zahn, H.H., Brownstein, M.A., Jackson, S.L. (2004). Violence: from theory to research.
Zahn et al. delves into the factors, mechanisms, and theoretical perspectives that underlie collective violence,
examining how violence is mobilized within groups and directed against other groups
Key Concepts and Theoretical Perspectives
- Collective Violence: refers to organized acts of aggression by a group aimed at another group. Collective
violence often stems from social structures, political influence, and shared identities within groups that
encourage violence against perceived enemies.
- Social Identity Theory: individuals categorize themselves and others into groups process often leads to increased
loyalty within one's group and hostility or prejudice toward other groups. Collective violence is more likely when
there is a strong "us vs. them" mentality.
- Motivational Forces Behind Violence: factors that drive groups toward violence:
o Uncertainty Reduction: Groups provide stability and clarity, reducing anxiety or confusion for individuals.
o Self-Enhancement: Violence may be used to protect or elevate the status and pride of the group.
- Role Leaders and Narratives: crucial role in promoting violence: shaping group narratives/ perceptions. Through
propaganda, they reinforce idea of group being under threat and justify the use of violence to protect it.
- Dehumanization and Collective Victimhood: portraying out-group members as less than human or morally
corrupt, making violence against them easier to justify. Collective victimhood refers to seeing one's own group as
a victim, often escalating hostility and legitimizing violence against others.
Key Terms Explained
- Collective Violence: Organized violence carried out by a group against another group.
- Social Identity Theory: psychological theory how individuals define themselves through group membership.
- Uncertainty Reduction: desire for stability/clarity people to follow group norms/actions, including violence.
- Self-Enhancement: Efforts to boost status and pride of one’s group, even through hostile means.
- Dehumanization: The process of viewing others as less human, justifying aggressive actions against them.
- Collective Victimhood: A shared perception among group members of being targeted or harmed by others.
Self-Assessment Questions
1. What is collective violence, and what are some examples mentioned in the article?
organized violence by one group against another, often for political, social, or ideological reasons. Examples include war,
terrorism, gang violence, and genocide.
2. What role do leaders play in mobilizing groups for collective violence, according to the article?
Leaders influence group behavior by shaping narratives, using propaganda, and reinforcing group identity. They often
portray out-groups as threats, which justifies violent actions to protect the in-group.
3. Describe concepts of dehumanization and collective victimhood, how they contribute to collective violence?
Dehumanization involves seeing out-group members as less human/immoral easier to justify violence against them.
Collective victimhood is when group views itself as victim of another group, increasing hostility and legitimizing aggression .
4. What are primary motivations discussed in article that drive groups toward violence?
uncertainty reduction: seeking stability through group identity, self-enhancement: boosting group pride( through violence).
5. How can uncertainty reduction lead individuals to support collective violence?
Belonging to a group provides clarity and stability. When faced with threats or uncertainty, people may support violence to
protect their group's identity and maintain order.
6. Why might self-enhancement lead a group to engage in violent acts?
Groups resort to violence to defend/boost their reputation, pride, or status, especially if they feel challenged by outsiders.
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, 7. Real-world examples where social identity and leadership played a role in collective violence?
Nazi Germany: Hitler mobilized people through strong leadership/propaganda and extremist groups using identity-based
narratives to justify violence.
8. How might understanding collective victimhood help in addressing or preventing violence between groups?
By recognizing how groups perceive themselves as victims, interventions can focus on addressing grievances, reducing
hostility, and fostering empathy to prevent conflict.
Lecture 2: why join a violent group
We will use the context of street gangs and extremist groups as case studies. We will also discuss the role of ideology
in collective violence. When reading about violent events in the media, it seems like support for a certain violent
ideology it is one of the main reasons why people join violent groups. But is it?
Vecchio, J. M., & Carson, D. C. (2022). Understanding the Role of Violence and Conflict in the
Stages of Gang Membership. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice,
explores how experiences with violence influence youth involvement in gangs. It uses social learning theory to
explain how these experiences shape decisions to join, stay in, or leave a gang. The authors conducted qualitative
interviews with former gang members to gather detailed insights into their experiences.
Key Concepts
1. Social Learning Theory: people learn behaviors through interactions with others and by observing consequences
of those behaviors. With gangs, youth may learn that violence can lead to respect, protection, or financial gain.
2. Differential Reinforcement: idea that behaviors are influenced by rewards or punishments that follow them. For
gang members, violent actions may be reinforced by positive outcomes (like gaining status) or negative
outcomes (like fear of retaliation).
3. Gang Membership: being part of gang, which can involve various activities: criminal behaviour/ violence.
Findings
- Violence as a Reinforcer: experiences of violence, whether as perpetrator or victim, play significant role in
shaping youth perceptions of gang life. These experiences can reinforce decision to remain in gang or to leave it.
- Stages of Gang Involvement: authors identified different stages in gang membership:
o Initiation: Joining a gang often involves seeking excitement or protection.
o Continuation: Members may stay due to the perceived benefits, such as camaraderie or financial gain.
o Disengagement: Leaving gang can be influenced by negative experiences: increased violence/legal troubles.
o Qualitative Insights: many youth initially join gangs for excitement but find reality to be less thrilling and
more dangerous than expected. This disillusionment can lead to a reassessment of their gang involvement.
- Implications for Understanding Collective Violence: illustrating how individual experiences with violence can
influence group dynamics within gangs. Highlights importance of addressing underlying motivations and
consequences of gang involvement to develop effective interventions
Key Terms and Concepts
- Gang Disengagement: process of leaving a gang, which
can be influenced by various factors, including violence.
- Embeddedness: degree to which individuals are
integrated into a social structure, such as a gang, which
can affect their decision-making.
- Joining a violent group piramid
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