Are we living in an age of persecution?
Prof. Fathali M. MoghaddamWhat's driving us when we act as a collective? And why does modern life mean more people feel persecuted than ever before?
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Persecution is a common theme throughout history. And although there's been a general decline in direct violence in recent times, more groups and individuals than ever before feel defined by the violation of their rights, and perceived cultural and institutional violence against them. Pathological hatred and polarisation are everywhere. Are we living in an age of persecution?
Fathali Mogghadam is a professor of psychology at Georgetown University in the USA, where he explores how context and culture shape human behaviour. He's an expert in mutual radicalisation: the process of individuals and groups driving each other to more and more extreme behaviour and beliefs.
Fathali joins us in The Garden for this special conversational look at the psychology of persecution and why modern life means more people feel persecuted than ever before.
Read this talk's transcriptTalk outline
50 minutes
30 minute talk
20 minute Member Q&A
Prof. Fathali M. Moghaddam is both a professor of Psychology at Georgetown University, and the editor-in-chief of Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology.
Persecution Collection
Throughout history, humans have found ways to oppress and malign those they feel they're in opposition to, whether because of ethnicity or beliefs. In this collection, we're exploring the legacy of persecutions past, and why they're such a recurring theme.History remembers the persecution of early Christians as a clash between the Roman state and its traditional gods, and the new Christian cult and its upstart God. But is that really all there is to the story?
What's driving us when we act as a collective? And why does modern life mean more people feel persecuted than ever before?
Witch hunting is, by and large, a thing of the past, yet we remain captivated by the concept. What drives this fascination, and why are we still talking about witch hunts today?
