The Dissenter

#1158 Vibeke Ottesen: The Psychology of Political Violence

8 snips
Oct 3, 2025
Guest
Dr. Vibeke Ottesen
Dr. Vibeke Ottesen, a Norwegian criminologist specializing in the psychology of violence, discusses the roots of political violence through an evolutionary lens. She explores how ideologies can justify violence while often highlighting underlying status-seeking behaviors. Ottesen delves into the 'Young Male Syndrome,' the dynamics of lone actors influenced by online identities, and the media's role in rewarding perpetrators. Additionally, she examines mental health factors in violence, including the high suicidality rates among mass shooters and the nuanced role of women in political violence.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Political Violence Is Hard To Define

  • Political violence includes acts done with political or religious ideology as reference, but its definition is contested.
  • Terrorism often lacks a universally accepted operational definition, complicating research.
INSIGHT

Young Male Syndrome Explains Male Violence

  • Male reproductive competition shapes a propensity for risk and violent competition among young males.
  • The 'dangerous young male' idea explains male over-representation in homicide and can extend to political violence.
INSIGHT

Coalitional Psychology Fuels Group Aggression

  • Men evolved coalitional psychology that favors group-based aggression and clear in-group/out-group distinctions.
  • The 'male warrior' model links tribal warfare history to modern political violence and cohesion in male groups.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app