For the Thrill of It

Abstract

In the same way that some young men get together on a Saturday night to play a game of cards, certain hate-mongers gather to destroy property or to bash minorities. They look merely to have some fun and stir up a little excitement... at someone else’s expense. In a thrill-seeking hate crime, there need not be a precipitating incident. The victim does not necessarily “invade” the territory of the assailants by walking through their neighborhood, moving onto their block, or attending their school. On the contrary, in looking to harass those who are different, the assailants search out locations where the members of a particular group regularly congregate. The payoff for the perpetrators is psychological as well as social: they enjoy the exhilaration and the thrill of making someone else suffer. For those with a sadistic streak, inflicting pain and suffering is its own reward. In addition, the youthful perpetrators also receive a stamp of approval from their friends who regard hatred as “cool.”