Why have psychiatrists not developed a concept of collective psychopathology? Over 260 million people died in the 20th century as a result of war and genocide.
One would imagine mental health professionals would enter the arena to explore the causes and meanings of collective forms of violence and mass-destruction.
It would appear that there is profound resistance toward exploring pathological behavior that is “normative.” Does this resistance stem from our attachment to nations as sacred objects?
Political mass-murder is undertaken by nations. It is difficult to face this reality that the most extreme forms of violence are performed in the name of beloved objects to which most of us are attached.
To “awaken from the nightmare of history”—we need exploring the relationship between violence and love.
Why are the massively self-destructive forms of human behavior undertaken in the name of our beloved nations?
Dr. Richard Koenigsberg, Director
Andrew Hammer, Executive Director
Mei Ha Chan, Marketing Director
Foundation for the Study of Political Pathology
