Genocide requires widespread difficult life conditions, not mundane frustrations

Evidence

Staub’s (1989) refinement of the frustration–aggression perspective suggests one answer to Allport’s first criticism that (contrary to frustration– aggression theory) frustration does not always turn into aggression against scapegoats. Staub theorized that genocides and mass killings require widespread, extremely “difficult life conditions” (due to social, political, and/or economic upheavals) that frustrate a host of basic needs, for physical wellbeing, safety, a sense of belonging, selfand group esteem, and hope for the future. Mundane frustrations are insufficient to spawn scapegoating movements, which gain adherents by promising to fulfill the heightened needs of a mass of people (e.g., safety and prosperity will be achieved by attacking the “enemy”). — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1575

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the vault’s scapegoating and contact-theory reassessment — distinguishes collective preconditions from individual frustration accounts. — connects to: Genocide always requires organized state or militia planning