Pleasure in Violence

Abstract

In today’s society, which is committed to the values of peace and freedom, there are many people who seek the stimulation of violence in order to express specific feelings. The reported empirical examples (paintball players, hooligans, sadomasochists) show that the theories claiming that the process of civilization leads to declining control over emotions in the modern age must be revised. In fact, there is a great deal of self control, and rituals of violence are rationally-based techniques used to gain an experience of social powerlessness and a contrast to everyday life.