Neuroimaging studies have shown that the amygdala, the tiny almond-shaped brain structure that mediates fear, is larger in people with more rightwing views

  • yesman@lemmy.world
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    13 days ago

    I read once that Holocaust research causes three distinct traumas. One is where you realize that it really happened to real people. Two is when you empathize with the victims and can visualize yourself of loved ones in that position. Three is when you empathize with the perpetrators and can visualize yourself or loved ones in that position.

    It’s natural for children to believe that good people do good things and bad do bad, but that opinion can’t survive into adulthood without profound lack of self awareness.

  • Funderpants @lemmy.ca
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    13 days ago

    Provocative headline, good read.

    On a less serious note, does the small Nazi in us have an even smaller Nazi inside them?

  • Maeve@kbin.earth
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    13 days ago

    I noticed something for the first time, likely due to social conditioning that I’d missed it before: we have to stop dehumanization when speaking of large and small scale humans. They are not monsters, they are humans, like us. Perhaps if they’d been treated in s humane way, they would have enjoyed some happy coincidence of nature and nurture and not gone on to such egregious acts. “In the beginning was the word,” and abuse starts with thoughts, progresses to belittling, dehumanization and then physical abuse.

    • TimeSquirrel@kbin.melroy.org
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      13 days ago

      As someone on the spectrum, I’ve been ostracized, humiliated, and dehumanized all my life, yet I did not become a Nazi. It only made me angrier at the people who want to put their boots on your neck.

      • Atelopus-zeteki@fedia.io
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        13 days ago

        I’mma guess the answer to your question, is no, Friend TimeSquirrel. Get on wit’ yo’ Bad Self!

        Edit: My assessment is that your anger is righteous, so that’s why I encouraged you to continue as you are. Peace.

        • Maeve@kbin.earth
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          13 days ago

          Reactive abuse is still abuse. That’s not saying don’t defend ourselves. It is saying it’s fine to remove myself and not seek to justify my behavior in becoming that which I found abhorrent. It happens. It’s a l long journey of healing, before I could even about that to myself. Looking at ourselves need not be distorted for better or worse. I can only correct my behavior by hm, to borrow a 12 step phrase, “fearless and searching moral inventory.” No justifications, no excuses. The abyss does indeed look back.