On Killing, by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman

t. Col. Dave Grossman is a former US army officer and at present professor in "military science" at Arkansas State University. Furthermore he is co-author to the acclaimed book: "On Combat" (you can read more about this book here). In the equally highly praised book "On Killing" Grossman discuss the psychological side on killing in combat. At the same time he looks at the development of the (mostly American) society during the last decades. And it is indeed scary perspectives and connections that are being brought forward.

Grossman claims that the folding of the American society, combined with a massive influence of violence in media and interactive computer games, are in fact training young people to kill in ways very similar to the way soldiers are training to kill in actual combat. He says: "We are reaching that stage of desensitization at which the infliction of pain and suffering has become a source of entertainment: vicarious pleasure rather than revulsion. We are learning to kill, and we are learning to like it."

I am totally in line with the author when he states: "(..) On Killing's contribution to this debate is its explanation as to how and why violence in the media and in interactive video games is causing violence in the streets, and the way this process replicates the conditioning used to enable killing in soldiers and law enforcements officers... but without the safeguards." This safety net is a vital part of the martial arts, but are not always in place for youngsters who can be almost programmed to violence by the media and the gaming industry.

If you believe that any soldier automatically will kill an enemy in combat without any hesitation, you better guess again. Research and studies show that the opposite is more often the fact. Many soldiers, up until the Vietnam war, would not pull the trigger even if it meant grave danger to themselves. Based on these findings the military started to "re-program" the soldiers to kill the enemy. How? Read this book! Amongst other things methods included computer animations and the use of drugs. Scary perspectives? You bet!

All in all this is a book that you should find time to read. If you teach or train martial arts or self-defense, it is a must read! If we lose our ethical framework surrounding our arts, we are in effect becoming a part of a very dangerous and sadly growing side-effect to our modern society. This is the loss of empathy and the use of massive and often pointless violence without a second thought - violence just for the "fun" of it...

Back to the page: books (click here)