Prof Brock-Utne is a professor of education and development at Oslo University and a visiting professor at the University of Otago's National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies.
Breivik had made a very strong "statement in blood" with his bombing and shooting attacks in Norway last year, she said in an interview.
He had since recently also been "extremely cold" in court, saying he was trying to avert a claimed Islamic threat to Europe, and refusing to apologise for shooting many young people.
She noted he had sometimes smiled, despite the gruesome evidence, and had cried only once when shown an image of himself.
Although his recent behaviour had been "extremely difficult" to deal with, the Norwegian people had responded positively, including through an "enormous gathering of people singing peace songs".
Norwegians, both Christians and Muslims, had united and shown "fantastic support" for each other in the face of Breivik's behaviour.
"I think it's very, very important the way that we have reacted. It's a good way."
It was right that Breivik had been given a chance to respond publicly to charges against him, despite his efforts to use his high profile to gain extremist followers elsewhere in Europe. It was also right that his false claims about Sharia law being imposed in Europe were countered by rational arguments, rather than silencing him by force, she said.
• Prof Brock-Utne gave an open lecture at Otago University this week, on "Language and Power", the title of her recently published book. And, on Thursday, she took part in a public panel discussion at the university on "Creative Responses to Extremism: Lessons from the Breivik Trial ", the event having been jointly organised by the university's Centre for Theology and Public Issues and the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies.
