Commentary on “mass hatred in the Muslim and Arab world: the neglected problem of anti‐Semitism” by Neil Kressel

Abstract

Comments on an article by N. J. Kressel (see record 2007-16779-004). The author notes that hatred is the affect that accompanies defensive instincts, especially during their appetitive and consummatory phases. In other words if a hostile agent threatens to attack or attacks the subject, the subject will respond with an appropriate hostile response which will be accompanied in the two phases mentioned, by hateful feelings. This is a simple and obvious mechanism which would account for mass hatred and anti-Semitism when there has been an obvious precipitating threat or attack. Hateful feelings and accompanying attacks are generated in the course of mood regulation. When the initial threat is not consciously perceived by the observer, responsive hatred and accompanying aggression may seem unmotivated. The process of mood regulation is frequently silent and unnoticed. In fundamentalism, the murderous anger is often preceded by depression. Muslim anti-Semitism currently is obviously a continuation of the imposition on the Jews of the state of Dhimma which is the term for the contract between the Muslim state and its non-Muslim subject communities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)