Why Do We Hate?

“What makes hate tick? How can we stop it?” These are the questions that Jim Mohr, director of Gonzaga University’s Institute for Action Against Hate, asks himself every day as he develops a new field of study around hate. Mohr believes that despite all the devastating examples of hate in the world, no one really understands why one person hates another. The institute hopes to change that through the interdisciplinary study of hate, incorporating insights from history, psychology, religious studies, anthropology, and political science. Mohr cautions against simple explanations of the emotion and points out that fear, greed, and even the desire to belong can drive hate. That said, he is also optimistic: “We can change. There has to be hope.” [%comments]