AdvertisementAnd there’s a term that captures this very phenomenon: violent innocence. In this sense, violent innocence is a cognitive mechanism that people wield in order to defend their self-image against the reality of the damage and pain they’re causing. AdvertisementThe lens of violent innocence highlights these kinds of events as an insidious performance of righteousness or helplessness when confronted with the suffering they’re actively enabling. “While you can’t change the past, you’re being asked to modify your behavior to prevent future harm,” Cromer said. Ultimately, violent innocence thrives wherever accountability feels unbearable.
