psyc3
ARTICLE 1
Instructions: Click the link below to read the article. Then, review the synopsis and
answer the related questions:
http:
www.washingtonpost.com
logs/worldviews/wp/2015/04/01/sweden-is-about-to-
add-a-gender-neutral-pronoun-to-its-official-dictionary
In a preschool in Stockholm, all children are refe
ed to as “hen,” a gender-neutral
pronoun, as an alternative to the male and female pronouns “han” and “hon.” The
gender-neutral pronoun can be used in two ways: (1) when the gender is unknown or
not relevant or (2) when refe
ing to inter-gender people. Nurseries, kindergartens, and
preschools increasingly argue that the use of a gender-neutral pronoun allows children
to grow up without feeling the impact of gender biases. Simply introducing a gender-
neutral pronoun in other countries may not be sufficient to fight sexism, however.
Turkey, for instance, also has a gender-neutral pronoun; yet Turkey was ranked 125th in
the 2014 gender-equality report of the World Economic Forum compared with Sweden,
which was ranked 4th.
SHORT ANSWERS 3-5 SENTENCES
1.
How do you feel about the use of gender-neutral pronouns in nurseries, preschools, and
kindergartens? Would you want your child’s school to use gender-neutral pronouns?
Why or why not?
2.
The article notes that using gender-neutral pronouns in other countries may not be
sufficient to fight sexism and gender biases. Why do you think that gender-neutral
pronouns seem to be working in some but not in other places?
ARTICLE 2
Na
ator: Nothing characterizes the darker side of human nature more than the intentional mass
destruction of human life. History is replete with ho
ific examples of humanity turning on itself,
inflicting torture, unmerciful suffering, and genocide. Humans are born with the capacity for both
good and evil. There are many examples. Mother Teresa devoted her life to alleviating the
suffering of others. Martin Luther King, Jr., dedicated his life to the cause of human rights. In
sharp contrast, Adolf Hitler
ought about the destruction of masses of people in World War Two,
including the systematic genocide of millions of Jews. More recently Saddam Hussein used
iological warfare on the Kurds, citizens of his own country, as a means of so-called ethnic
cleansing. What are the conditions that cause people to act on this kind of aggressive impulse,
leading to the distraction of entire segments of society? Dr. Ervin Staub is a leading psychologist
who studies the antecedents of genocide. He is the author of the Roots of Evil. From his own
experience during the Holocaust to his more recent work in Rwanda, his analysis provides
important insight into the nature of genocide. Staub argues that mass killing is the outcome of
http:
www.washingtonpost.com
logs/worldviews/wp/2015/04/01/sweden-is-about-to-add-a-gender-neutral-pronoun-to-its-official-dictionary
http:
www.washingtonpost.com
logs/worldviews/wp/2015/04/01/sweden-is-about-to-add-a-gender-neutral-pronoun-to-its-official-dictionary
ordinary psychological processes and their evolution. Thus we cannot attribute genocide to
unique character traits in either the perpetrators or the victims. Dr. Staub: The only thing that
justifies tremendous harm in my mind is defending oneself or one's family or other people from
tremendous harm. And in the case of genocide and mass killing, that's not the case. Even when
others try to harm you, the response usually involves killing children, killing women, killing all
kinds of people who have not been involved, and it’s no way commensurate with any kind of
action towards the group. Na
ator: Dr. Staub has studied the conditions su
ounding genocide in
Rwanda. Here one faction, the Hutus, ca
ied out a murderous campaign against a second group,
the Tutsis. The result was the senseless slaughter of more than 700,000 people and the
displacement of countless others. What forces could possibly instigate such violence and
aggression? Staub has identified factors that function as starting points for the type of conflicts
that can result in genocide. These include: severe economic problems, political turmoil and
disorganization, elaborate social changes, conflict between groups over political and economic
power. These facts combine to frustrate fundamental human needs and can turn subgroups within
the society against each other. Dr. Staub: There were very severe economic problems. The cost of
tin, which is one of the few products that Rwanda exports, has plummeted in the world market.
There were other problems with other products. But in addition to that there was the beginning of
a civil war between Hutus, who have long ruled Rwanda, and Tutsis. Children of refugees,
former refugees, or refugees themselves came back into Rwanda and tried to gain some rights
and tried to gain influence. And there were other political parties emerging that were in conflict
with the government. So these things often combine and they create a starting point. The don’t
account for genocide but they represent the start. Na
ator: According to Staub, a past history of
conflict and antagonism between groups often leads to a destructive ideology. That ideology
comes prominent and popular by promising a better life. A group that has historically been
devalued or seemed to be different is portrayed as an obstacle to that better life. Staub calls this
the Ideology of Antagonism. One group is made the scapegoat for social turmoil and
disorganization. Members of this group are looked upon as morally bad and harmful. How is it
possible for an ideology to succeed in fostering genocide? First, the dominant group begins
discriminating against another identifiable group in subtle ways, perhaps in jobs or housing. This
leads to limited acts of violence. As this targeted group becomes dehumanized in the eyes of
other citizens, the society actually creates institutions to ca
y out greater acts of violence. This
spiral continues to the ultimate result: genocide. Dr. Staub: In the course of this, not only
individuals change but society changes. New norms and standards of behavior develop. Behavior
towards these people that would have been inconceivable behavior now becomes acceptable and
ecomes normal. New institutions are created that serve violence. In Germany, for example, the
SA, the SS were created that served doing harm to these others. And in other societies also,
paramilitary groups are created to act violently towards these people. So there is this whole
societal process that individuals and institutions and the society participates in that makes
increasing violence more likely. I call it steps along a continuum of destruction. As part of this,
killing, which was wrong on original becomes not only acceptable but the right thing to do,
ecause these people need to be dealt with. The higher ideals of the ideology justifies to harm
them and ultimately killing becomes the right thing. So there is a reversal of morality. Na
ator:
Strong authorities often instigate genocide. Therefore Staub maintains that societies that show
strong respect for authority are more likely to fall into the cycle of destruction. Dr. Staub: When
the society begins to harm or a perpetrator group begins to harm another group, people are less
likely to speak out. It’s very difficult to speak out against this under any circumstance, but in a
very obedienceoriented society, people will be even less likely. And therefore they are less like to
stop it. And finally there is the issue of direct obedience to orders, which is more likely in an
obedience-oriented society. Rwanda, for example, is extremely obedience-oriented, so there is
this hierarchy all along and when people are told what to do, they tend to do it. And that's what
happened in the course of the genocide. I see the role of bystanders as crucial in genocide.
What’s a bystander? A bystander is a witness who is in a position to know what is happening. I
say in a position to know because often bystanders, even when what's happening is right in front
of them, they close their eyes to it. There are in genocide at least two different kinds of
ystanders: Members of society while not themselves part of the perpetrator group initially or
part of the ideological movement and all outsiders who can see what's happening. The Internal
Bystanders usually remain passive. They are affected by life conditions, they are part of the
culture. They also have learned to devalue this other. They respect authority and they tend not to
take action. External Bystanders also usually remain passive or they are you complicit. They
continue business with the perpetrator group. Economic exchanges and so on. And this kind of
passivity affirms perpetrators. In contrast, when bystanders take action, it can have very
significant effects. The potential power of bystanders is extremely great and it is usually not
exercised. Na
ator: Staub’s research asserts that reconciliation and healing are possible. He and
his colleagues developed a strategy to
eak the cycle of violence. Dr. Staub: The beginning of
healing is necessary in order to begin to be able to engage with people in the other group. And
then some real degree of reconciliation has to happen to make more healing more likely. There
has to be some degree of reconciliation because that he reduces the central danger from the other.
If I begin to reconcile, then maybe the other is not going to continue to try to kill me. And then I
have greater security, and this greater security makes it possible to continue to heal. Na
ator:
Staub’s project attempts to educate about the psychological processes leading to aggression and
violence. Through an understanding of common bonds of humanity, people can take action to
prevent the spiral of destruction that leads to genocide. Dr. Staub: The feeling of justice, the
experience of justice can be the result of a number of elements. One of them is punishing
especially violent perpetrators, organizers. Another one is people who perpetrated this doing
positive things for society. People who participated trying to balance what they have done by
positive acts. Acknowledgment of what one has done and expressing of so
ow and regret are
very important in order to create some sense of compensation and justice on the part of people.
Na
ator: It is hoped that intervention programs, like that in Rwanda, can help resolve the
conflicts that result in the ho
ors of genocide. People must be encouraged to unite and to
acknowledge that violence is self-defeating and must not be tolerated. Dr. Staub: To enhance
other’s welfare, and our own at the same time, is every single person 's responsibility. If we sit
ack and wait for the other, things are not going to go so well. We have to