Summary
"On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society" by Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman delves into the deeply ingrained resistance humans possess against killing their own species, a resistance so potent that soldiers often face death before they can overcome it. Grossman challenges the conventional fight-or-flight model of aggression, introducing the concepts of posturing and submission as key components of intraspecies conflict, highlighting that violence is often ritualized and restrained. Drawing upon historical data, psychological theories, and firsthand accounts from combat veterans, Grossman examines how armies have historically sought to dismantle this resistance through conditioning, drill, and various psychological mechanisms.
The book explores the psychological toll of combat, revealing that psychiatric casualties often outnumber those from enemy fire. Grossman identifies fear, exhaustion, guilt, horror, and hate as significant factors contributing to combat trauma, further complicated by the act of killing. He also explores the concept of 'moral distance' and how it is achieved, to better psychologically enable soldiers to kill. He contrasts this with the devastating effects on soldiers when this act cannot be justified as a defensive action.
Grossman meticulously dissects the methods used to condition soldiers to kill, focusing on modern combat training techniques and the desensitization strategies employed during the Vietnam War era. He explains how techniques designed to enable soldiers to overcome their resistance to killing were also mirrored, without safeguards, in society. It is in electronic media that this translates into a 'virus of violence', with media violence-enabling in the ghetto the moral equivalent of shouting, 'FIRE!' in a crowded theater.
The study extends beyond the battlefield to examine the effects of media violence on society, particularly its role in desensitizing children and replicating conditioning techniques used in military training. Grossman warns of an 'acquired violence immune deficiency' caused by media exposure, drawing parallels to AIDS and illustrating how this deficiency weakens the individual's resistance to violence-enabling factors. He makes the case for collective mastery over both sexuality and aggression, advocating for the field of 'killology' as a necessary counterpart to sexology.
Ultimately, "On Killing" serves as a call to understand and address the root causes of violence, both in war and in society, urging readers to confront the dark beauty of violence rather than repress it. Grossman offers insights into how societal rifts, combined with media violence, indiscriminately condition children to kill, leading to a tragic price for individuals and the nation alike. He seeks to help us all take responsibility for what we teach our children.