Punishment as pleasure?

[Christopher Rhoades Dÿkema]

Very good. One kind of analysis of this kind of psychological phenomenon
calls it "ressentiment." There is another in Lynn Chancer's SADOMASOCHISM IN
EVERYDAY LIFE: THE DYNAMICS OF POWER AND POWERLESSNESS, a good book that
could have done with better editing. Sadomasochism is a key
mass-psychological characteristic of christianity, which, as we know is more
prevalent in the United States than in other advanced countries. This is part
of the psychological component of American exceptionalism.

Christopher Rhoades Dÿkema

s-t-t at juno.com wrote:


> Justin Schwartz writes:
>
> > I agree that we Americans are retributivist and that overpunishment
> > is currently politically popular. But I don't see any necessity to
> this. I
> > think it is a feature of a number of peculiar things about American
> > society--our Puritan heritage, economic uncertainty, racism, etc.
>
> Could it also be jealousy?  Not that I want to sound nuts, but I've often
> wondered if the most vociferous law & order vultures' outrage stems from
> the fact that a criminal can commit acts they resent being denied the
> freedom to engage in.  And to rationalize this they use the cry of "eye
> for eye" and righteousness to veil their own sadism.  Any thoughts?
>
> -- Shane
>
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