Intergroup Hatred: Psychological Dimensions

The negative impact of hatred on human life has been widely documented (Sternberg 2003; Opotow & McClelland, 2007). Aristotle perceived hatred as one of the more momentous emotions because of the way it undermines people's sense of judgment. Hatred is also known as one of the most prevalent and destructive affective phenomena in situations of long-term intergroup conflict (Halperin, 2008). It fulfills a fundamentally destructive role in the violent effect it exerts on intergroup relations, potentially impelling people to acts of mass murder and war. Hence, hate makes a huge contribution to the escalation and maintenance of long-term conflicts and it stands as a powerful barrier to conflict resolution.)