The Design of Everyday Hate: A Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis

Abstract

Throughout history artists, poets, and writers have been interested in the nature of hate.  Scientists from a variety of disciplines have also attempted to unravel its mysteries.  Yet in spite of abundant theorizing and research, most modern scholars still complain that little is known about this complex emotion.  In this study, a new approach has been taken.  Following Heider’s (1958) observation that scientists can often learn a great deal by exploring people’s “common-sense” or “naïve psychologies,” students at the University of Texas and participants from a number of Internet sites were interviewed regarding their perceptions of the nature of emotion.  Using grounded theory and employing mixedmethod analyses (qualitative and quantitative), four questions were explored: (1) What do people mean by hate? (2) Whom do they hate? (3) Why do people hate the people they do? (4) How do people attempt to deal with such feelings?  From participants’ answers, a theory concerning everyday hate was generated.