Political Science: Mass Killings and Genocides

The use of threats to inflict pain on a target to force them to comply with demands.

The deliberate use of air attacks against enemy military, industrial, and civilian areas to weaken their ability to fight.

Leaders may resort to mass killings when they think it's the only way to achieve victory.

Strategic bombing aims to break enemy morale, destroy infrastructure, and weaken their economy and military.

The Japanese bombing of Chongqing (1939-42) did not lead to Chinese surrender.

The German bombing of the UK (The Blitz) did not lead to British surrender.

The bombing of Tokyo by the US during WWII was another instance of strategic bombing.

Strategic bombing can involve significant civilian casualties, raising ethical concerns about the use of such tactics.

The tendency for groups to prioritize consensus over critical analysis, leading to poor decision-making.

The US bombing campaign against Japan during World War II, targeting major cities like Tokyo.

The US bombing campaign against North Korea during the Korean War, which included heavy use of napalm.

The US bombing campaign against Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia during the Vietnam War.

The idea that strategic bombing effectively weakens the enemy by breaking civilian morale, destroying infrastructure, or killing leadership.

While strategic bombing can generate anger and resentment in civilians, it often fails to incite rebellion against the government.

Strategic bombing often targets infrastructure, thinking it will cripple the enemy's economy and military output.

A psychological phenomenon where a group's desire for harmony and agreement overrides critical thinking, leading to poor decision-making.

A group's belief that they are invincible and can't fail. This can lead to risky decisions and a lack of planning.

The tendency of group members to believe that their own actions are inherently ethical and morally justified. This can prevent consideration of alternative perspectives.

The group's tendency to dismiss or explain away any information that challenges their shared beliefs.

When a group simplifies and stereotypes opposing groups, often demonizing them.

When group members censor themselves to avoid challenging the group's consensus.

The belief that everyone in the group agrees with the decision, even if there are doubts.

Individuals who try to stifle dissenting opinions and protect the group's consensus.

The belief that if one country falls to communism, neighboring countries will follow suit. This fueled the escalation of the Vietnam War, as the US saw it as a crucial battle in the global fight against communism.

The tendency for group members to see themselves as inherently moral and justified in their actions, often leading to a disregard for the ethical implications of their decisions. This contributed to the US's escalation of the Vietnam War.

The tendency for groups to simplify and categorize out-groups negatively, dismissing their perspectives and motivations. This played a role in the Vietnam War, as the US administration viewed North Vietnam as a puppet of the Soviet Union, neglecting the strong nationalist sentiments.

When dissenting voices within a group are silenced or marginalized, limiting the exploration of alternative perspectives and potentially leading to flawed decisions. This occurred in the Vietnam War, as George Ball's opposition to escalation was disregarded.

The collective decision-making process that led to the successful liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi invasion in the Gulf Crisis. This example demonstrates that groupthink does not always lead to negative results.

The occurrence of groupthink that results in favorable outcomes, such as the successful liberation of Kuwait during the Gulf Crisis.

A psychological experiment where students were randomly assigned to act as guards or prisoners, simulating a prison environment. The study was intended to last for two weeks but was ended after six days due to the escalating brutality of the guards and the psychological distress experienced by the prisoners.

The phenomenon of ordinary individuals engaging in acts of extreme violence or cruelty when placed within a social or organizational structure that normalizes and encourages such behavior.

The process by which a society or organization assigns values to individuals and groups, often based on factors such as race, religion, or social status.

The rejection of values that normalize violence, requiring individuals to challenge prevailing societal norms and beliefs.

The process of creating a cultural environment that actively resists the acceptance of violence and promotes respect for all individuals, regardless of their background or identity.

A situation where a group's tendency to suppress dissenting views or alternative perspectives leads to a closed-off path to negotiation and consideration of different solutions.

A situation where a group's focus on maintaining consensus and avoiding conflict hinders the exploration of alternative diplomatic options.

A situation where a group's strong alignment with a leader's viewpoint and commitment to group cohesion can prevent deeper exploration of alternative diplomatic options.

The capacity of a group to effectively consider different perspectives and challenge assumptions, leading to a more balanced decision-making process.

The ability of a group to effectively gather information, analyze options, and make decisions based on evidence and critical thinking.

A psychological experiment that demonstrates how obedience to authority can lead individuals to commit acts that they would normally consider morally wrong.

The tendency of individuals to follow orders, even if those orders involve violence or ethical violations, due to factors like obedience to authority, conformity, and diffusion of responsibility.