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Hatred

life science Maturity 13-18 Next article →

Hatred is an intense and negative emotional response.

A man glowering, expressing hatred or jealousy. Engraving by Wellcome V0009360
A man glowering, expressing hatred or jealousy. Engraving by Wellcome V0009360

People feel it toward certain people, things, or ideas. It is usually linked to feelings of revulsion or opposition. Many people see it as the opposite of love. This emotion can be very short or last a long time. It can be low intensity, like hating broccoli. It can also be high intensity, like hating the whole world.

Scientists have looked at how this feeling works in the mind. Robert Sternberg saw three main parts to hatred. First, it creates distance when closeness feels threatening. Second, it adds passion, such as anger or fear. Third, it involves a decision to devalue something once valued. This can help a person seek autonomy, or independence. Sigmund Freud believed it was a way to protect oneself. He thought it was a way to destroy the source of unhappiness.

Many thinkers have studied this topic throughout history. Aristotle believed hate was different from anger or rage. He said hate is a desire to destroy an object. He also thought it could not be cured by time. Later, David Hume said hatred is an irreducible feeling. He believed it was a feeling that could not be defined. In the 1970s, Donald Winnicott wrote about how hate is a sign of civilization. He noted it involves recognizing an outside object.

There are also many rules about how people treat each other. A hate crime is a criminal act that targets a specific group. These groups might be defined by race, religion, or gender. They might also be defined by age, disability, or nationality. Some countries have laws against hate speech. Hate speech is using words to disparage a person or group. This can include written words or spoken words in public. These laws are often debated in different societies.

We can even see how the brain reacts to these feelings. Scientists use a tool called fMRI to scan the brain. This machine lets them see which parts of the brain are active. When people look at things they hate, certain areas light up. These include the middle frontal gyrus and the right putamen. The premotor cortex and the frontal pole also show activity. This helps us understand the physical side of how we feel.

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