Repression of Emotion: A Danger to Modern Societies?

Abstract

This essay proposes that repression of emotions is a key institution in modern societies, and that it underlies both interpersonal and intergroup violence. The first step is to compare traditional and modern societies with respect to their treatment of the social-emotional world. Next a relatively minor type of repression is considered: belief in an afterlife in heaven that is so intense as to lead to the repression of fear. However, the denial of death by young people, especially men, is more serious, since it causes them to be overly ready for military service. The last step is to review a still more serious possibility: studies that suggest that war and collective conflict, such as terrorism, may be caused by humiliation and vengeance. It appears that shame can lead to vengeance if and only if the shame is completely repressed. If this is true, then trying to understand and reduce violence by focusing only on politics and economics is a grave error. Finally, some preliminary steps toward change are discussed.KeywordsModern SocietyRoller CoasterGrave ErrorHorror FilmIsraeli PolicyThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.