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theses

This dissertation examines the processes by which psychologically normal individuals become willing participants in genocide via a four-part discussion. Part one provides a review of the literature on the psychology of genocides and critiques the existing theoretical models. Part two then presents a new theoretical framework and introduces the Perpetration of Extreme Violence model. Part three applies this new framework to the analysis of an actual instance of extreme violence: the 1994 genocide in Rwanda; and examines the degree to which the PEV model maps onto both the broader course of events and the experiences of the actual perpetrators. Finally, part four utilizes two empirical studies to test several of the underlying predictions of the PEV model. Study One reveals that, consistent with the PEV’s predictions, the degree to which individuals endorse harm-legitimizing ideologies about a target group is positively related to levels of outcome attitudes associated with the first three stages, as well as general levels of hatred and support for harmful policies directed at the target group. Study 2 then takes the analysis a step further by focusing on two additional predictions: (1) that exposure to harm-legitimizing ideologies could increase endorsement of these ideologies, ultimately resulting in more negative attitudes and support for harmful policies directed at the target group and (2) that the effects of ideology exposure on endorsement would be moderated by individual levels of Right-Wing Authoritarianism, Social Dominance Orientation and/or Ingroup Identification Strength. Results fail to support both hypotheses suggesting that a single exposure to harm-legitimizing ideology is not strong enough to produce real attitude/belief change. Implications, limitations and future directions are discussed.

ETD_4935

Ph.D.

Includes bibliographical references

by Heather Anne Nofziger

doi:10.7282/T3JM27NF

ETD doctoral

The author owns the copyright to this work.