Hate Groups for Dummies: How to Build a Successful Hate-Group

Abstract

Both of us have been involved for many years in teaching and research concerning topics ranging from propaganda and prejudice to the psychosocial roots of mass violence and genocide. Clearly the analysis of the functioning and structure of hate based organizations falls within the domain of our interests. It is our perspective that only through an understanding of the psychological mechanisms that play a role in enmity ranging from the individual to the national level can we work to combat hate as a destructive force within our society. WHAT IS A HATE GROUP?Both the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League track and maintain records concerning hate groups and hate group activities in the United States. Using their definitions as a foundation, we define hate groups as any organized group whose beliefs and actions are rooted in enmity towards an entire class of people based on ethnicity, perceived race, sexual orientation, religion, or other inherent characteristic. Note that there are two major components to this definition. First, a hate group must be organized. The level of visibility within the community, organizational structure (e.g. chapters), and degree of activity related to the promotion of beliefs (e.g. publications) all have and impact on whether an organization is classified as a hate group. Smaller groups that have not come to the attention of the community, do not engage in organized activities (e.g., publishing, rallies, or meetings), and efforts organized by one or two individuals are not considered to be hate groups. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center ( 2003), there were 751 active hate groups within the United States in 2003. Organization is such an important component in the identification of a hate group that some researchers use the term "organized racism" to define groups with an openly racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, or other bias (Blee, 2002).The second major component of the above definition is the clear use of enmity towards a specific group as a primary organizational focus. Consequently, the fundamental belief system of the group and the majority of organized group activity are focused on the promotion of hate. Informal activity however may meet a broader range of psychological needs. The Anti-Defamation League (2004) identifies the most common hate group targets within the United States to be African-Americans, Jews, Hispanics, and gays/lesbians. Recent immigrants and Catholics are also mentioned as targets of hate groups but to a lesser extent. The Southern Poverty Law Center breaks down hate groups in the United States into six categories: Neo-Confederacy, Neo-Nazi, Racist Skinheads, Black Separatists, Klan, and Other. The category "other" includes a range of organizations ranging from white supremacist groups such as those identified with the Christian Patriot and Identity movements to anti-gay organizations such as the Westboro Baptist Church.Hate of course is not limited to the United States. Rather, hate extends to all of the major regions of the pop...

Appealing to Moral Exemplars: Shared Perception of Morality as an Essential Ingredient of Intergroup Reconciliation

“…Intergroup conflict has been identified as one of the greatest problems facing the world today (Cohen & Insko, ). In the last century alone, it is estimated that over 200 million people were killed due to genocide, war, and other forms of intergroup violence (Woolf & Hulsizer, ). Such conflicts as those in the Balkan region or the Middle East leave deep scars that history tells us may never completely heal.…”

The Neuroscience of Intergroup Relations

“…Intergroup conflict, in particular, has been described as “one of the greatest problems facing the world today” (Cohen & Insko, 2008). For example, it has been estimated that over 200 million people were killed in the last century in acts of genocide, war, and other forms of group conflict (Woolf & Hulsizer, 2004). The social and economic obstacles of group living have attracted the attention of scholars and scientists from social, developmental, evolutionary, and cognitive psychology, social neuroscience, and biological and cultural anthropology, among others.…”

Intergroup Schadenfreude: motivating participation in collective violence

“…Intergroup conflict has been described as 'one of the greatest problems facing the world today' [2]. By some counts, the last century has seen over 200 million people killed in acts of genocide, war, and other forms of group conflict [3].…”