The "Dangerous Corner" of War

In his overview of "dangerous corners" in child development (Volume 12, Chapter 4, of The Collected Clinical Works of Alfred Adler), Adler warns us about the corrosive psychological influences of parental pampering and neglect, but he also emphasizes three social influences that seriously inhibit the development of social interest in children as well as adults: war, capital punishment, and racial prejudice. The media may focus on gun control, mental illness of killers, or violent video games, but little attention is paid to the daily impact of killing for imperial purpose. Given the appropriate political or legal justification, murder can be framed as heroic or justified punishment. Do we know or care how a young child digests the impression that it is OK for the state to take another's life? Surely, this does not foster an increase in the feeling of community and an interest in the welfare of all of mankind. Our actions may suggest to children that it is acceptable to destroy any designated enemy.