Book SummaryOn Killing, by Dave Grossman

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of On Killing

The psychological hurdles and processes that lead to a resistance against the act of killing.

The inherent resistance to ending another human's life is a trait most people share.

The core premise of "On Killing" posits that humans possess a natural aversion to ending the lives of other human beings. Grossman suggests that the inherent aversion to taking a life is rooted in an essential biological and societal distaste, rather than solely a question of morality or ethics. This section focuses on the evidence for this resistance and explores its potential origins.

Throughout numerous historical conflicts, it has frequently happened that a significant number of soldiers have chosen not to employ their weapons.

Grossman amasses a vast collection of information from various battles spanning multiple years to support his claim that a general reluctance to take lives is prevalent. Based on S.L.A. Marshall's seminal work, Grossman elaborates on the observation that during World War II, merely 15-20% of combatants actively participated in combat by firing their weapons at the enemy. He broadens this examination to include past conflicts like the American Civil War and the Napoleonic Wars, where he discovers supporting data in the form of unexpectedly modest casualty figures and the frequent recovery of weapons from the battlefield that were loaded several times yet remained unfired. Grossman's research uncovers a consistent pattern in which soldiers frequently find it challenging or hesitate to take another person's life, despite having undergone intensive training and being in the presence of imminent threats. This pattern, Grossman posits, transcends national, cultural, and temporal contexts, suggesting a fundamental human characteristic.

A combination of biological, societal, and psychological elements may play a role in this reluctance.

Grossman investigates the root factors contributing to the frequently observed hesitation to take another person's life. He provides a multifaceted rationale, rooted in the disciplines of evolutionary biology, psychology, and sociology, to clarify this phenomenon. From an evolutionary standpoint, Grossman suggests that the presence of lethal behavior within a species poses a significant threat to its survival, leading to the natural development of mechanisms that restrain intra-group aggression. Grossman notes that human behavior often mirrors the complex rituals of dominance and yielding observed in the animal kingdom, emphasizing that throughout history, humans have tended to engage in conflict through the use of intimidating war chants, fearsome clothing, and intentional misaiming to prevent causing deadly injuries. Additionally, Grossman incorporates Freudian ideas, indicating that for the majority of individuals, the innate inclination to protect life outweighs the tendency to destroy it. Grossman acknowledges that societal, cultural, and environmental factors intertwine to influence the complex interplay between inherent inclinations and acquired conduct, which in turn determines how individuals and groups demonstrate their aversion to taking life.

Maintaining emotional detachment and physical distance can affect an individual's ability to take a life.

Grossman suggests that the complexity of taking a life extends beyond the mere physical action, being significantly influenced by the emotional detachment of the individual committing the act from the victim. This division, as he asserts, manifests in both physical and mental dimensions, influencing the simplicity of taking a life and the subsequent psychological impacts. This section explores how various types of distance affect an individual's likelihood to engage in violent acts and the subsequent psychological trauma they experience.

As the distance between the perpetrator and the target increases, so does their feeling of disconnection and insensitivity.

Grossman suggests that the emotional burden and the immediate feeling connected with killing diminish as the distance from the assailant to the victim grows. Distance creates a feeling of detachment and impersonality, reducing our ability to recognize the unique human characteristics of others and decreasing our empathetic response to them. Grossman highlights the contrast in combat experiences, where infantry troops face immediate clashes while bomber and artillery personnel engage in combat from afar, using examples from modern warfare. He argues that although the act of discharging a firearm or detonating an explosive is consistent, the psychological and emotional effects vary greatly. The bomber pilot is insulated from the immediate and palpable...

On Killing Summary Methods for addressing the hesitation associated with taking a life.

Military frameworks utilize specialized training and conditioning to streamline the process of taking lives.

The text explores the intentional yet frequently subconscious strategies employed to increase the capacity of military members to effectively use lethal force. Grossman acknowledges the necessity of preparing military members for the brutal realities of warfare, but he also voices concern about the ethical implications of this preparation and its potential impact on individuals and society as a whole. He meticulously explains the methods employed to overcome the inherent resistance to taking another's life, particularly in modern military forces.

The process of taking a life becomes linked with positive reinforcement through established conditioning techniques.

Grossman delves into the methods modern military forces use to apply behavioral psychology concepts, training their soldiers to grow increasingly accustomed to the harsh realities of violence and death through the use of associative learning and gradual exposure, which reduces their aversion to such experiences. Service members undergo a rigorous training program that uses intense imagery, spoken...

On Killing Summary Military regulations that allow for the use of deadly force and the wider societal aggression are interconnected.

The escalation of violent, aggressive, and deadly conduct in society reflects the training techniques employed by the armed forces.

Grossman suggests that the techniques used by the military to make it easier for soldiers to kill in battle are alarmingly similar to the factors contributing to an increased acceptance and approval of violence in daily existence. He argues convincingly that the increase in aggressive behavior, especially among young people, reflects a broader societal acceptance of these actions, which is heavily influenced by how they are depicted in entertainment, thus creating a conducive atmosphere for such behavior.

The book delves into the psychological foundations of lethal conflict and their relation to wider societal issues regarding violence. Grossman contends that while the military’s purpose in overcoming soldiers’ resistance is to increase their battlefield effectiveness and ensure their survival, the indiscriminate application of similar techniques in civilian society is having a dire impact on our communities.

Various forms of media, including video games, often utilize training methods grounded in the foundational concepts of...