Pyramid of Hate

Aims of the tool

The aim of this task is to draw conclusions from which one can form the so-called Pyramid of Hate.

The Pyramid of Hate presents a visual image to demonstrate how the seeds of hate, once planted, can quickly grow from biased ideas to hate violence. A useful tool for understanding how small acts of prejudice can lead to radicalization and escalate to extreme violence.

Description of the tool

INSTRUCTIONS: Divide participants in groups of 4-6 and give each group colorful papers with the following terms written on each: xenophobia, racism, hate speech, stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, violence, genocide. Give them also colorful paper arrows that they need to use to put the terms in order of how they happen, what’s first term, what it leads to, all the way to the end of the chain of these forms of behaviour. The task of each group will be to find as many connections as pos­sible between the terms, how each term leads to another term and ultimately to radicalization.

Questions for debrief: Was it easy to put them in order? In which point of this chain of reactions you weren’t sure? Which of these points is critical for preventing radicalization?

GENOCIDE (deliberately and systematically annihilate an entire nation)

VIOLENCE (terrorism, murder, rape, vandalism)

DISCRIMINATION (intentional discrimination, preventing people of a particular group the same access to employment, housing, and education but it may also escalate to harassing behavior. This is the first pyramid step that goes beyond our freedom of speech and enters into legally prohibited behavior. The discrimination is not directed at an individual and their behavior but must be based on a person's race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation or gender to be seen legally as discrimination.)

PREJUDICE (hateful jokes and statements, social avoidance, name-calling, xenophobia)