Title

Cruelty and Oxytocin. On the Origin of Somatic Disintegration from Psycho-Somatic Dualism.

Authors

Jagiełło, Mieszek

Abstract

Somatic disintegration is the removal of body parts or the forceful introduction of objects into the body. If considered a medical treatment, no connections to psycho-somatic dualism can be made, but when it is an act of malignant violence, both phenomena correlate. The following paper aims to explore a new hypothesis on the origin of cruelty. It sheds light on the correlation between inflicting physical cruelty, especially somatic disintegration, and a predominant belief in psycho-somatic dualism and explains various techniques that break the integrity of the body through the prism of their symbolism. Its purpose is also to set out cultural elements connected to ontological dualism as factors fostering the use of excessive violence. The argumentation is based on atrocities committed during armed conflicts or as a result of rebellions. It turns out that the so-called oxytocin paradox plays an important role in connecting the dots.

Subjects

OXYTOCIN; THERAPEUTICS

Publication

Avant, 2020, Vol 11, Issue 2, p1

ISSN

2082-7598

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.26913/avant.2020.02.10