The Nature of Hate

Robert J. Sternberg · Karin Sternberg

Apr 2008 · Cambridge University Press

About this ebook

What is hate and why is there so much of it? How does it originate, and what can we do about it? This book opens with a discussion of how hate makes its presence felt in the real world, discussing various definitions and theories of hate. Next it describes a duplex - two-part - theory of hate. According to the first part of the theory, hate has three components: negation of intimacy, passion, and commitment. According to the second part of the theory, this structure of hate originates from stories people create about the target - that, say, a group comprises enemies of God, or monsters, or vermin, or power-crazy tyrants, or any of a number of other stories. The authors discuss hate in the context of interpersonal relationships, survey the role of propaganda in inciting hate and analyze the role of hate in instigating terrorism, massacres, and genocides.

About the author

Robert J. Sternberg is Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, Professor of Psychology, and Adjunct Professor of Education at Tufts University. He is also Honorary Professor of Psychology at the University of Heidelberg in Heidelberg, Germany, and past president of the American Psychological Association. Sternberg is the author of about 1,200 refereed journal articles, book chapters, and books.

Karin Sternberg is Research Associate at the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative of the School of Public Health and the J. F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University. She is co-editor of the book The New Psychology of Love as well as of the book Psychologen im Beruf: Anforderungen, Chancen und Perspektiven (Psychology as a Profession: Demands, Chances, and Perspectives).