As we have seen, fear arises from our most primitive urges resulting from activation of the amygdala. The primitive brain mechanisms involved here include simplification, generalization, and Us and Them categorization—all prime ingredients for stereotyping. Now, when strong superior/inferior divisions and hatred are thrown into the mix, all it takes is for some leader or government propaganda to plant the idea that our existence is threatened in some way by the “inferior” group, to trigger the type of fear that leads to mass violence.
