Instead of listing cruelties under the names of countries, rebel or terrorist groups, it is revealing to identify patterns of values, attitudes and behaviour, beginning with the age-old stigmatizing of victims. Such negative labelling is implemented in policies of national inclusiveness: whom to regard as normal and worthy, as compared to policies of exclusiveness which designate whom to see as abnormal and unworthy.

Under various jurisdictions and in different periods of history, the stigmatized have included people with a disability, those suffering mental illness, Indigenous peoples, Indian untouchables, Hazaras in Afghanistan, Tamils in Sri Lanka, homosexuals, Jews, Christians, gypsies, non-believers, apostates, asylums seekers, refugees, mixedblood Aboriginals and unmarried mothers.

In many countries and cultures, cruelties are sustained by an automatic acceptance of religious and moral justification for the manner of conducting relationships. Under the rule of inflexible monarchies and theocracies, as in Saudi Arabia and Iran, stigmatizing also seems motivated by efforts to appear masculine and to degrade women. Such practices have persisted for centuries but have achieved new support under the influence of conservative Islam, or by extremist beliefs and intolerance fuelled by any religion. With the imposition of religious rules comes a ghoulish pleasure in observing pain being inflicted on others.

Sadism is not practised only by religious extremists. Military regimes display a dependence on violence as though they can think of no other way to exercise control. Addiction to violence is aided by the international arms trade and by the availability of the latest weapons as well as by cinema, video games and the media.

These patterns overlap. Reference to terrorism has become the cue to justify torture and other forms of cruelty, and to say that such behaviour is permitted by law. The terrorism labelling overlaps with the demonization of individuals, with sexual motives for violence and with religious justification for such practices, even if such conduct is denied.