jpost.com
Hamas's October 7 Kinocide: A Psychologically-Motivated Assault on Israeli Families
On October 7, Hamas terrorists launched a premeditated attack on Israel, targeting civilians and specifically destroying Israeli Jewish families using horrific violence, torture, and the broadcasting of atrocities via victims' personal devices, highlighting a strategy termed "kinocide" that targets familial bonds to maximize suffering and psychological damage.
- How does the concept of "kinocide" help explain the psychological motivations and underlying dynamics of Hamas's actions during the October 7 attack?
- Hamas's actions represent a form of "kinocide," a neologism describing the systematic destruction of familial bonds. This is evidenced by the deliberate targeting of women and children, the use of victims' communication devices to torment their families, and the overall intent to inflict psychological damage beyond physical harm. This strategy reveals a deeper psychological motivation beyond mere violence.
- What are the potential long-term implications of Hamas's attacks on the psychological well-being of surviving family members and the broader Israeli society?
- The October 7 attacks suggest a severe psychological disturbance within Hamas. The brutality inflicted on women and children may reflect a disturbed relationship with the maternal figure, stemming from shame-honor cultures that create intensely enmeshed mother-child bonds. This unresolved trauma manifests as a violent projection of inner rage onto Jewish families, symbolized by the mother, as a means of enacting a fantasy of destruction and reclaiming control.
- What were the specific tactics employed by Hamas during the October 7 attacks that indicate a deliberate targeting of family units and not just the killing of civilians?
- On October 7, Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, targeting civilians, including women and children. The violence involved unspeakable brutality, including torture, mutilation, and the use of victims' phones to share images of their suffering with family members. This attack was not simply about killing Jews; it was a targeted assault on the Israeli family unit, a core component of Jewish identity and culture.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing centers heavily on the psychological interpretation of the Hamas attacks, emphasizing the perpetrators' motivations and internal conflicts over a broader examination of the event's political, social, and historical contexts. This emphasis shapes the reader's understanding towards a psychoanalytic interpretation, potentially overshadowing other equally important aspects.
Language Bias
The language used is occasionally emotionally charged and uses strong terms like "frenzy," "brutal torture," and "wholesale slaughter." While these terms effectively convey the horror of the events, they might also inadvertently introduce an emotional bias, swaying readers towards a specific interpretation. The use of terms like "madness" and "pathological" to describe the perpetrators could also be considered loaded language. More neutral alternatives could enhance objectivity.
Bias by Omission
The analysis focuses heavily on the psychological motivations of Hamas, potentially overlooking geopolitical, religious, or other contextual factors that may contribute to the attacks. While the psychological perspective offers valuable insight, a more comprehensive analysis would benefit from exploring other contributing elements. The lack of discussion regarding Hamas' stated goals and justifications for their actions also represents a significant omission.
False Dichotomy
The analysis presents a somewhat simplistic dichotomy between the conscious and unconscious motivations of the perpetrators, suggesting a clear division between 10% conscious and 90% unconscious action. This oversimplification neglects the complex interplay between conscious intentions and unconscious drives, which may not be so clearly demarcated.
Gender Bias
While the analysis focuses on the targeting of women and mothers, it does so within a specific psychological framework. The author's expertise in psychoanalysis is evident, however, a more balanced perspective might include additional viewpoints regarding gender dynamics and motivations beyond the psychoanalytic lens. There is a risk of reinforcing existing stereotypes about gender roles and behaviors.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article details the October 7th Hamas attacks, focusing on the targeting of families and women. This act constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law and human rights, undermining peace, justice, and the stability of institutions. The systematic nature of the violence, including the use of victims' communication devices to share atrocities, highlights a deliberate effort to inflict psychological trauma and disrupt societal structures.