A Theoretical Model of Victimization, Perpetration, and Denial in Mass Atrocities: Case Studies From Indonesia, Cambodia, East Timor, and Myanmar

We introduce a new model, “TOPASC: A Theory of the Psychology of Atrocities in Societal Contexts,” to explain why peoplejustify mass killings and why certain group members are consistently targeted. In our model, we explore how mass atrocitiesagainst specific groups are influenced by psychological dynamics in intergroup situations which, in turn, are shaped by socio-historical contexts and individual psychologies. To illustrate these ideas, we analyze four cases of mass atrocities in SoutheastAsia: Indonesia, Cambodia, East Timor, and Myanmar. These cases highlight how different social groups, characterized bydiverse ideologies, ethnicities, genders, or religions, exhibit varying vulnerabilities as perpetrators or victims based on theirsocial and power status. Mass atrocities are not sudden occurrences but rather result from a series of complex processesand events.