No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
Manifestations of hate are multiple, diverse and complex. It can range from very subtle forms to much more explicit ones. Hate can remain an inner feeling or it can manifest in violent actions: from verbal abuse or insults to bullying, harassment, disinformation portraying minorities in an incorrect and unfavourable light, threats or calls for violence, all the way to physical violence, or even murder. The Pyramid of Hate offers a simplified illustration of the building blocks of hatred, from (innocent?) bias through to the most severe life-threatening manifestations.
In a pyramid, the upper levels are supported by the lower levels. These lower levels are often unconscious, so that the individual is not aware that they are engaging in any kind of discrimination or contributing to hatred or mistrust. If people or institutions treat behaviours on the lower levels as being acceptable or ‘normal’, it results in the behaviours at the next level becoming more accepted. From individual emotions and feelings to the establishment of biased attitudes and behaviours, a progression can arise towards organised and systematic discrimination, all the way to the most violent criminal acts. The Pyramid of Hate ilustrated how small steps make the attitude escalates from inocent, harmless biases and stereotypes to hate and violence. Once the seeds are planted, unattended and under auspicious circumstances, the behaviour changes from thoughts to jokes, then acts and violence.
In a pyramid, the upper levels are supported by the lower levels. These lower levels are often unconscious, so that the individual is not aware that they are engaging in any kind of discrimination or contributing to hatred or mistrust. If people or institutions treat behaviours on the lower levels as being acceptable or ‘normal’, it results in the behaviours at the next level becoming more accepted. From individual emotions and feelings to the establishment of biased attitudes and behaviours, a progression can arise towards organised and systematic discrimination, all the way to the most violent criminal acts. The Pyramid of Hate ilustrated how small steps make the attitude escalates from inocent, harmless biases and stereotypes to hate and violence. Once the seeds are planted, unattended and under auspicious circumstances, the behaviour changes from thoughts to jokes, then acts and violence.
EUROPEAN
CITIZENS’ PANELS TACKLING HATRED IN SOCIETY, European Commission, 2024
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