A Sociocultural Perspective on Genocide: A Review of The Psychology of Genocide: Perpetrators, Bystanders, and Rescuers by Steven Baum

In The Psychology of Genocide, Steven Baum adds a new voice to the field of genocide studies. By connecting relevant psychological theories, Baum is able to effectively show that one's level of emotional and moral development plays a part in determining whether one will become a bystander, perpetrator or rescuer during a genocide. However, his look into hate and genocide lacks a complete psychological perspective because his sole emphasis is on developmental theories. By adding a sociocultural perspective to this approach, specifically through the addition of social identity and representation research, one can get a fuller picture of what leads a society and its people to genocide and hate.