Arron Beck's Prisoners Of Hate

1) What did you already know that was a part of the readings? While reading Arron Beck’s Prisoners of Hate (1999), I encountered a great deal of information that I have previously learned. For example, Beck stated that people frequently frame outgroups unfavorably, whether if that means to engage in prejudice, stereotypes, or intolerance towards the other. He further enforces this point by noting the contrasts in the ways people treat others based on if they are perceived as the other or similar to themselves—these contrasts are especially apparent when a person is in a state of vulnerability. Beck also references evolutionary theory sporadically throughout the book to provide insight into how these odd behaviors and beliefs regarding outgroups have been used as survival mechanisms. These are points that I have enjoyed reading about in the past, so it is interesting to read the way Beck puts the information together.

2) What was new information to you?

Aaron Beck discussed many ideas that I have not heard about before. Amongst the new and interesting things that I read is Becks insight into the purpose of experiencing psychological pain. Beck stated that people frequently neglect to understand that there is a reason why psychological pain is experienced. In other …show more content…
I have already mentioned the question previously, being that I would be interested in exploring if Becks idea holds up with other experiences, other than hate. If hate has the same psychological mechanisms and thought patterns, regardless of their cause, then the same should be true for all emotions, including positive emotions. Yet it would be difficult to believe that all love that people experience is the same, regardless of the cause. Based on the emphases that Beck places on this one idea, I suspect that I may have my question answered—directly or indirectly—in subsequent