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

by Ervin Staub

How can human beings kill or brutalize multitudes of other human beings? Focusing particularly on genocide, but also on other forms of mass killing, torture, and war, Ervin Staub explores the psychological, cultural, and societal roots of group aggression. He sketches a conceptual framework for the many influences on one group's desire to harm another: cultural and social patterns predisposing to violence, historical circumstances resulting in persistent life problems, and needs and modes of adaptation arising from the interaction of these influences. Such notions as cultural stereotyping and devaluation, societal self-concept, moral exclusion, the need for connection, authority orientation, personal and group goals, "better world" ideologies, justification, and moral equilibrium find a place in his analysis, and he addresses the relevant evidence from the behavioral sciences. Within this conceptual framework, Staub then considers the behavior of perpetrators and bystanders in four historical situations: the Holocaust (his primary example), the genocide of Armenians in Turkey, the "autogenocide" in Cambodia, and the "disappearances" in Argentina. Throughout, he is concerned with the roots of caring and the psychology of heroic helpers. In his concluding chapters, he reflects on the socialization of children at home and in schools, and on the societal practices and processes that facilitate the development of caring persons, and of care and cooperation among groups. A wide audience will find The Roots of Evil thought-provoking reading.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, History, Sociology, Politics, Science, Crime

354 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Dr. Ervin Staub is Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Fellow of both the American Psychological Society and the American Psychological Association, where he served as President of the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict and Violence. He received his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1965, after which he taught at Harvard University until 1973. Since then, he has published and edited numerous books and articles focusing on morality, pro-social behavior, genocide, peace and violence. His book, The Roots of Evil , inspired a three part television series of the same name shown on BBC television in England, and the Discovery Channel in the US. He credits his assisted escape from the Nazis in his native Hungary at the age of 6 with having "inspired me to dedicate my life to figuring out how to get people to respond to those who need help."

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read if you are looking to understand the psychological factors that contribute to mass murder and genocide. Staub discusses the psychological factors that contributed to several real-world genocides within this book, including the Holocaust, the genocide of Armenians in Turkey, the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot's regime in Cambodia, and the disappearances that occurred in Argentina. Beyond that, he also discusses the psychological traits of individuals that engage in helping actions in such conflicts, and discusses how children can be socialized to facilitate the development of a caring, kinder, more cooperative society. Well-researched, well-written, and its insights are just as relevant today as they were in 1992 when it was originally published. I managed to originally get a hold of a library copy of this when I was younger. Read it in the span of a single day. Couldn't put it down. When I learned that the psychology department at Western had some extra books, and I managed to find a copy of this in that, I took it in a heartbeat. One of the best psychology books I own.

[Mr. ToppDeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Roots of Evil is an important book, both in its application of a comprehensive theoretical lens to the problem of mass violence and in its practical usefulness for efforts to prevent genocide from happening again. Staub explains how difficult conditions combine with social/political events to enable inter-group violence using detailed historical examples. His analysis shines light on the darkest actions of human beings, making sense of how neighbors can turn against each other. The book also offers hope that mass violence can be prevented, especially through efforts to humanize the "other" and speak out during the early events that can lead to genocide. In a world in which dehumanization remains all too common, i believe this book will remain critical reading for years to come. I recommend it highly.

[Anika Utke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly an amazing and interesting look on the psychology behind what might lie behind the perpetrators of mass atrocities such as genocide. Though, I find Staub's summaries of what happened in his case studies to be just that--summaries, with a good deal of info left out--this is not necessarily a reflection on him, but more of an urge to others who read this to further research for themselves the case studies he uses. This is honestly such an important book.

[Wil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty cool info.