Group violence arises from interacting cultural, situational, and motivational influences, not single causes
Evidence
Aspects of these theories are congenial to the theory presented here, with realistic group conflict theory, which in its basic form assumes that conflict is purely over real, material resources, as well as power, without considering psychological elements, the least congenial. The present theory, which may be called sociocultural motivation theory, focuses on a multiplicity of interacting influences, with intense group violence as their outcome. These include cul tural dispositions, life conditions, and group conflict. While life conditions and group conflict create frustration and the experience of threat, rather than conceptualizing the result as displacement, the theory identifies the basic human needs this gives rise to, as well as how they are satisfied. — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide, 174
Categorization
- DEFINE: Names and situates the chapter’s own ‘sociocultural motivation theory’ against rival theories of group violence, especially realistic group conflict theory.
- corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide: The Social…, 174
- XREF: connects to: Weimar-era normative upheaval stripped Germans of cultural buffers against existential terror. — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide: The Social…, 512; Group violence against subgroups grows from frustrated basic human needs seeking fulfillment — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide: The Social…, 79; Cultural violence arises from superiority beliefs fused with underlying group vulnerability — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide: The Social…, 96 (+9 more)
Broader Connections
- Structural factors alone can produce violence without prior animosity
#complicates(0.85) - Group violence can erupt without any prior history of animosity
#complicates(0.80) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 655 - Intergroup violence can erupt without prior animosity when institutions fail and trust collapses
#complicates(0.80) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 655 - The form of violence reflects institutional structure, not underlying hostility.
#complicates(0.80) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 655 - Group isolation produces collective misperception and redirected violence against outsiders
#expands(0.78) - Societies that devalue and rarely model aggression produce nonviolent people
#expands(0.75) — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 167 - Structured group interests, not personalities, drive intergroup hostility
#complicates(0.75) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 651 - Aggression toward out-groups is not limited to subordinate-group targets
#expands(0.72)