ALEXAN DER MITSCH ERLICH
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cruelty . To begin with , we must distinguish cruelty from violence :
cruelty is refined violence . In the heat of an argument someone may
punch someone else in the face; this is a form of expression, a wild ,
uncivilized one, but one which might also be lifesaving under certain
circumstances . The spontaneous use of our physical force is part of the
psychosomatic character of rage. This explosive fighting behavior in
fury is different from cruelty . To blind someone ,
to
skin someone
alive ,
to
put out a cigarette on someone's back during an interroga–
tion-and
to
carry out such behavior in methodical and deliberate
fashion-this must be invented and learned.
It
is not an inborn fight–
or-flight behavior.
There is another important difference
to
consider: whether such
actions follow
directives
or one 's own initiative . As we have noted
before, individual acts of cruelty, as well as of violence , stand under
threat of punishment . If similar acts of cruelty , for instance, flogging,
are declared
to
be in the public interest then not only are they not
punished , but this systematic infliction of bodily pain and arousal of
the fear of death is used by society as a method of mastery. Societies are
particularly cruel when they are involved in strong emotional enmities .
As Freud says: .. A belligerent state permits itself every such misdeed,
every such act of violence , as would disgrace the individual."
What is interesting in connection with such officially sanctioned
acts of cruelty, and possibly not really explainable in psychological
terms , is that there are always enough people at hand who are quite
willing to inflict cruelty on the enemies, or imagined enemies , of their
society. And more people yet condone such infliction of cruelty ; even
if they do not take an active part in it , they identify with a strong sense
of inner agreement with such behavior. This is often observed during
psychoanal ytic treatment .
No matter how many times it is restated that the introduction of
the death sentence statistically does not cause a diminution of crimes of
violence , but rather attracts them in the way that opposites attract , the
argument will be advanced that the death sentence is good , that it is a
deterrent . The majority is prepared
to
reintroduce it , as we have
recently seen in California.
We should keep in mind our definition of cruelty : cruelty is a
behavior which
inflictspain deliberately
and
gratifies one's own needs.
As physicians and medical specialists , we come in frequent contact
