Historical and Psychological Roots of Cruelty and Hatred
For centuries, cruelty and hatred have been perceived not only as irrational impulses but also as socially justified phenomena, taking form through cultural rites, rituals, and social upheavals. The historically established system of views has often transformed violence into an instrument of adaptation or even destructive transformation, when collective moral standards permitted the use of brutality against certain groups in the name of ideological objectives.On the other hand, the inner dynamics of personality also play a huge role in forming aggressive manifestations. A lack of emotional support in childhood, the absence of love and care, as well as the presence of conflicting character traits — such as pride, the desire for power, and deep despair — contribute to the development of destructive emotions. Often, aggressive behavior is not so much a deliberate act as it is a cry for help, a signal of internal suffering that demands attention and understanding. Moreover, hatred, by its very nature the antithesis of love, can drive a person to strive to destroy what appears to be their greatest enemy, turning personal conflicts into social catastrophes.Thus, the interweaving of historical traditions with psychological mechanisms demonstrates how cruelty takes on different forms depending on the sociocultural context and personal experience. Recognizing these interrelationships helps not only to understand the origins of violence more deeply but also to work on preventing its destructive consequences, aiming to create a society where love and respect replace hatred and enmity.What historical and psychological factors can explain the manifestations of cruelty and hatred among people?Historical and psychological factors that explain the manifestations of cruelty and hatred are diverse and interconnected. Historically, cruelty has often been determined by cultural traditions, rituals, and social transformations. For example, one source states: "According to this new morality (new, however, only in its cynical form, while essentially unchanged since the times of Cain and Abel) — cruelty, wild enmity, etc., are permissible and even obligatory, provided they are directed in a certain way and have a specific focal point. The only trouble is that there is no measure or judge to determine the lawful and necessary object of cruelty and enmity. In primitive times, and among savage peoples even now, captured warriors from a neighboring tribe or clan were either eaten alive or sacrificed to the gods." (source: 1259_6291.txt)This viewpoint indicates that collective notions of morality and religious-ritual traditions could transform violence into an instrument of social adaptation or destructive transformation of society. Historical turning points, revolutions, and changes in societal ideals also contributed to cruelty being adopted and targeted towards certain social groups, as noted here: "In all these cases, cruelty was directed in a specific way and received a definite focal point under the guidance of a well-known societal ideal. Similarly, today revolutionary parties across Europe are ready to direct their unbridled and wild enmity against the ruling and wealthy classes..." (source: 1259_6291.txt)From a psychological perspective, the manifestation of cruelty and hatred is rooted in a complex combination of personality traits, emotional conflicts, and disruptions in early upbringing. Some sources note that certain character traits — such as pride, vanity, the thirst for power, as well as deep inner despair and envy — play a crucial role. For instance, it is stated directly: "Not all the mentioned traits may characterize someone who has been 'seduced' by demonic thoughts, visions, or 'revelations.' Some exhibit megalomania, vanity, and the thirst for power; others — melancholy, despair, hidden restlessness; some — envy or gloom and hatred; for many — carnal lust..." (source: 1463_7312.txt)Furthermore, the lack of emotional warmth, love, and support in childhood can contribute to the development of aggressive behavior. In one vivid example, it is noted: "Where does it all come from? From the fact that he, this boy, did not know what love was. Neither his father, nor his mother, nor his grandmother, nor his teacher, nor anyone in his class showed him that another life was possible. He lived in an environment devoid of love. And here are the results. He was given ten years, yet there was basically nothing to judge him for. A little boy, an eighth-grader. What can you ask of him? He is a child of the environment that created him. Simply an extreme case." (source: 9_44.txt)Special attention is also given to the idea that brutal acts can be a cry for help, a way to express an internal state of suffering and despair: "When a child acts cruelly, it is a cry for help expressed in such a paradoxical, strange form. We understand this not spiritually, but legally, and therein lies our trouble." (source: 1344_6717.txt)Finally, one of the essential psychological characteristics is that hatred is regarded as the opposite of love. This state of mind forces a person to strive for the destruction of that which evokes such profound repulsion: "Hatred is not simply one of the forms of egoism; it is the antithesis of love, not of egoism. In hatred, as in love, the individual emerges from a state of inner withdrawal; hatred is directed at the very essence of the object loathed. Every hatred ultimately seeks to destroy its object, to inflict harm upon it." (source: 1281_6400.txt)Thus, historical factors such as ritual practices, social revolutions, and collective ideological stances intertwine with psychological factors — individual character traits, the lack of love in childhood, and inner conflicts. This combination creates fertile ground for the manifestations of cruelty and hatred among people.Supporting quotes:"According to this new morality (new, however, only in its cynical form...)" (source: 1259_6291.txt) "In all these cases, cruelty was directed in a specific way and received a definite focal point..." (source: 1259_6291.txt) "Not all the mentioned traits may characterize someone who has been 'seduced' by demonic thoughts..." (source: 1463_7312.txt) "Where does it all come from? From the fact that he, this boy, did not know what love was..." (source: 9_44.txt) "When a child acts cruelly, it is a cry for help..." (source: 1344_6717.txt) "Hatred is not simply one of the forms of egoism; it is the antithesis of love..." (source: 1281_6400.txt)