The Politics of Looking Away
Psychology Today
by Gail Sahar, Ph.D., and M. Gabriela Torres, Ph.D.February 21, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The article "The Politics of Looking Away" explores why people often feel paralyzed when confronted with images of extreme suffering, such as violence against children or military conflicts. It argues that this paralysis is not a personal failing but rather a manufactured response by those in power to maintain control. By normalizing violence and dehumanizing certain groups, political actors manipulate public perception to keep individuals complicit and indifferent.
Anthropological research highlights how prolonged exposure to violence can lead to its normalization. For example, studies of conflicts in places like Palestine and Guatemala show that politically produced death is used to strengthen the power of perpetrators while shaping public behavior. The more we see violence, the less likely we are to act against it, as it becomes a "natural" fact rather than a moral outrage.
The article also examines the psychological impact of such manufactured paralysis. Herbert Kelman's concept of "sanctioned massacres" explains how systemic violence is carried out against defenseless civilians, often with official approval. This dehumanization of certain groups makes their suffering seem less shocking or deserving of intervention. For instance, the deaths of Palestinian children are sometimes met with derision rather than outrage, reflecting a deeper societal acceptance of their lives as expendable.
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Originally published on Psychology Today on 2/21/2026