The Moral High Ground and Social Media - The Justification of Hate
Increasing the distance between the [combatants]—whether by emphasizing their differences or by increasing the chain of responsibility between the aggressor and his victim allows for an increase in the degree of aggression. — Ben Shalit The Psychology of Conflict and Combat” In Lt. Col. David Grossman's book - On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society - he explains the further removed a combatant is from his enemy, the easier it is to attack and kill without emotion, without sympathy and most importantly, without remorse. According to Lt. Col. Grossman, "t he enemy combatant as 'sub-human' is what psychologists call 'in-group bias.' By devaluing those who are not of our 'tribe,' they are viewed as threats. That bias is manipulated with propaganda and indoctrination, which motivates and justifies the 'tribes' hate and actions towards another clan." In other words, dehumanizing the enemy places the atta...