Cost Quote by Pascal Boyer
“The fundamentalist violence is, so is it, an attempt to increase the stakes, i.e. to discourage the potential desertions by showing that defection will cost them dear, that those who adopt other values will be persecuted or even killed.”
About This Quote
Source Article: The Evolution of Religious Violence, Pascal Boyer, 2015
Violence is used to raise the cost of leaving a group, deterring members from defecting by threatening severe punishment.
In simple terms: Violence deters defection by making it dangerous.
Key Takeaway
Raise awareness of coercive tactics.
Themes
power
control
religion
violence
Mood
anxious
critical
Type
analytical
critical
When to use this quote
- political movements
- religious sects
- militant groups
- counter‑terrorism strategies
Key Concepts
social coercion
group dynamics
deterrence
Questions to Reflect On
- How does fear influence loyalty?
- What alternatives exist to coercion?
A Different Perspective
May overlook non‑violent forms of persuasion.
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