Sadism

The book describes sadism as “the unconscious impulse to acquire unrestricted power over another person, and to test the fullness of this power by destroying that other person..." (471). In my opinion, it is the sadistic human beings who contribute the most to the high amounts of human and animal abuse in the world. Someone who takes pleasure from another person or animal's pain is sadistic. This sadism creates a never-ending cycle of abuse that occurs because when one person harms another, the abused person in turn will reenact what was done unto them or what they witnessed done unto another person. One of Socrates' most important beliefs was the belief that one should do no harm to another person even if they themselves were harmed, but in stories like the one of Phoenix the pitbull, children "who have witnessed such abuse or been victimized themselves" are engaging in "abusive reactive" behaviors. (485). While there have been many steps to protect both animals and humans from horrendous abuse, it is difficult to pinpoint where abuse is happening before it reaches unimaginable levels. “Before 1990, only six states had felony provisions in their animal-cruelty laws; now 46 do.” (483).

"...Animal cruelty has long been recognized as a signature pathology of the most serious violent offenders."(483). I've heard this before, that a telltale sign of a future murder was abusing animals as a child. This type of behavior could be seen in people like Jeffrey Dahmer or Dennis Rader for example. According to Robert K. Ressler of the FBI, "there are kids to never learned it's wrong to poke out a puppy's eyes." (PETA.org). Sadistic behaviors are creating a cycle that can be difficult to break. If a person is abused, he or she too is at risk of developing aggressive behaviors that may lead them to become the abuser later in life.

To end unnecessary suffering for people and animals, known abuse needs to be targeted immediately and people need to become more educated on noticing abuse. Because sadistic behaviors can be transferred to the abused, it is imperative that societies uphold greater punishments for abuse and offer the abused opportunities to cope healthily. Without institutions who work actively to end the cycle of abuse, sadistic behaviors in communities will spread.

- Arctic Fox