ABSTRACT
Politicians or social scientists talk about individuals and groups as if their primary interest were "rational," to fulfill their material needs and maximize their wealth and power. The people who become perpetrators, like many others in the society, psychologically join those who assume leadership in identifying enemies and potential victims. The violence against the victims became acceptable, and even right for many. Torture is usually a part of or occurs together with other forms of group violence, like genocide, mass killing, or intense ethnic conflict. A conflict of interest between two groups can be an important starting point for the antagonism and hostility that lead to torture or killing. In some organizations that become unnecessarily violent or are used in torture—the police, para-military groups and the military—ordinary tasks sometimes require violence. Cultural self-concept is an important predisposing characteristic. A sense of cultural superiority is often accompanied by a sense of vulnerability.
