I've started doing a bit of research into the factors leading to genocide question for blog 1. Some of the factors I've found are things like in-group bias, illusory correlations, belief perserverance etc.
Do you think these factors are a problem here in Australia? Obviously we haven't had anything close to what happened in Rwanda but the sydney race riots were enough to send a shiver up my spine! What factors do you think lead to the sydney riots? Do you think our leaders could have prevented the disater? or done anything differently?
Any opinions welcome.
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3 comments:
Hi Mike,
I think that sadly in todays society there are a number of factors that affect people within the community in a negative way. You make an interestign point about the race riots in sydney and i think that perhaps ingroup bias was a major contributing factor that pushed these issues into the full fled riot that unfortunately took place. Another point that I am planning on looking into in my own blog on stereotypes may be useful for you to consider in the context of genocide is a lack of knowledge. I think that many of the riots and wars and rifts that occur between countries or groups within countries for that matter often stem from a lack of understanding of the beliefs and messages of those on the "opposing" side. How many times have we looked back in history and thought this?
When people do not understand they often become fearful and react in unpleasant and unkind ways (like in Sydney).
I think that perhaps the leaders of our communities could have promoted more of an understanding about different cultural groups and encouraged more intercultual communication. The 'us' and 'them' mentality leads to so many disagreements in everyday life and on a global perspective disrupts peace. Its hard to pinpoint an exact action that 'fixes' such problems but i think that there are often many indicators that need to be carefully monitored that could perhaps help to stopping events such as the riots.
Look Forward to reading your blog
Beck
Thanks Beck,
Great response! Some excellent points I Definitely agree that stereotypes and lack of knowledge would both play major roles. Perhaps lack of intelligence too. I may be wrong but I think its a fair guess that some of our most unintelligent people (on both sides) were on show at the Sydney riots! I know of some Canberrans that participated and they were not the most civilised sorts.
Also, I think the media also could have handled the Sydney situation differently. I don't think splashing it all over the news, all day everywhere across the nation, served any postive role. Much like the the virginia tech massacre. I cant comprehend how people could feel so negatively to commit such acts but giving it so much media attention, and creating so much fear is only going to inspire copycats as it would seem that is the reaction they are after.
Also a comment James made in a lecture caught my attention 'even though you may consider yourself not racist, you have an innate tendency to become more physiologically aroused (anxious etc) around people of other races.' Perhaps this trait is far stronger in some people than others! Perhaps it servers a greater purpose in some areas than others! Perhaps genes are the major factors! If so, what could be done?
Good luck with your sterotype blog! Are there any particular ones you are thinking of doing?
Hi Mike,
For Lecture 4 Aggression I've posted lecture notes and also a list of Aggression Keywords. You can use this as a kind of 'checklist' if you like as to possible causes. I've started to view this kind of phenomenon as a 'perfect storm' of social psychological elements. But I think we might underestimate the role of external factors such as economic disadvantage, disempowerment, etc. and the biological/genetic will to survive. Tweak a few of these variables and I suspect Australian society could become much more violent. We do not, however, however (arguably) have the complex and long history of inter-ethnic rivalry that many other countries do.
Look forward to seeing how your views/understanding develops.
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