Bloody Revenge: Emotions, Nationalism, And War

Description

As violence erupts in endless cycles and old grievances reemerge throughout the world, we are challenged to examine the underpinnings of protracted conflict. In this bold new work, Thomas Scheff argues that the roots of protracted conflict lie in unacknowledged feelings of shame and rage. Scheff builds from the assumption that the social bond is a real and palpable phenomena and that in every type of human contact the bond is either built, maintained, repaired, or damaged. He then demonstrates how damaged bonds are the basic cause of conflict. When one side or the other in a dispute is humiliated or threatened in such a way as to disturb fundamental bonds, the feelings that follow are often not acknowledged. Threats to the social bond give rise to violent emotions, shame, and rage. Unless these feelings are resolved, the stage is then set for cycles of insult, humiliation, and bloody revenge. According to Scheff, it is by recognizing the emotional source of conflict and repairing the broken social bond that both sides achieve cognitive and emotional understanding, allowing them to trust and cooperate, and perceive themselves as "all in the same boat." Thus, secure social bonds ensure clear boundaries–even during competition or conflict–that help keep wars limited and make disagreements productive. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Dedication Contents List of Figures Acknowledgments Introduction Theory Method References 1. Quarrel and Impasse in a Marriage Protracted Conflict An Empirical Approach to Alienation Feeling Traps Two Forms of Alienation The Motors of Protracted Conflict Conclusion References Part One: THEORY AND METHOD 2. Pride and Shame: The Master Emotions Language and Culture Approaches to a Concept of Shame Shame and the Social Bond Shame as the Master Emotion References 3. Alienation and Conflict: A Theory of Interminable Conflict Family Systems and Emotions The Emotional Sources of Vengeance Emotions as Explanations Pride and Shame Conclusion References Part Two: APPLICATIONS 4. The World Social System: The Origins of World War I The Origins of World War I A Family Quarrel War and Social Science References 5. The Origins of World War II: Hitler's Appeal to the Germans Earlier Studies Hitler's Personality Humiliated Fury as the Key Affect in Hitler's Life Shame-Anger Sequences in Mein Kampf The Triple Spiral Conclusion References Part Three: CONCLUSION 6. Acknowledgment and Reconciliation Grief, Anger, Fear, and Anxiety The Concept of Acknowledgment Apologies Acknowledgment of Shame and Levels of Collective Sanity Shame and Delusion Long-Term Implications for Reconciliation Between Nations Directions for Immediate Change References Appendix: Cues for Shame and Anger About the Book and Author Index