Psychological Essentialism In Rwanda Genocide

800,000 people were killed. This includes both the Tutsi and the Hutu. The genocide finally ended when a small Tutsi extremist group called the Rwandan Patriotic Front defeated the Hutu. This genocide occurred because the Hutu was afraid that the Tutsi would become more powerful and take over. They believed that by eliminating the entire Tutsi population, they wouldn’t have to worry about them taking over. The genocide went undetected for a few reasons. Politicians and government officials were aware of the target of the Tutsis. Not only did they fail to get involved, but they also refused to acknowledge that the genocide was even occurring. They tried their best to keep it a secret. People in America refused to even bring up the idea of genocide,

A main reason they are able to occur is the denial that something so horrible could ever happen. Crimes like this are so inconceivable that often times it's easier to ignore them than except that they are legitimate. There are a few reasons psychologists believe genocides occur. Two of the major beliefs of those who carry out genocides are called psychological essentialism and hierarchy. Psychological essentialism is the belief that everyone has an essence or soul. This can lead to dehumanization, which is the belief that a person of specific descent or with certain features is lacking that essence or soul. This in turn makes them essentially “not human”. The hierarchy is the belief that nature is set up like a pyramid. Humans are at the top of the pyramid, symbolizing power and importance. Domesticated animals come next, then wild animals, sea creatures, and finally insects and plants. When there is the belief that someone lacks a soul or essence, they fall on the social hierarchy. This goes back to considering them less than human. This all plays a part in genocide. When someone believes that a group of people lack an essence or soul, they can end up treating them like they are less than human. For example, during the Holocaust, Hitler taught his followers that Jewish people were not human. Rather objects that created destruction and would bring down society. This is why it was so easy for Nazis to

In America the government works for the people. Politicians want to be in power and as long as they give the people what they want, they will remain in power. If everyone were to write to politicians and demand that action be taken, there is a good chance that in few years genocides would be almost unheard