The human race is both appalled and fascinated by violence. Man's aggression spans the globe - from terrorist attacks to guerrilla wars to gang-related crime.
It is everywhere, and it binds all nations and races together. But where does it begin? Do we learn it or is it something instinctive?
Most of us think of ourselves as calm and peaceful people.
We're brought up to try and resolve all conflict peaceably and tend to think that violence is something that "other" people commit, not ourselves. But is it?
Is it possible that you, or your mother or daughter or son, could ever be driven to commit a dreadful crime? Do we have that level of violence in ourselves?
The answer is yes.
Contrary to popular belief, we are born violent. Until the age of three, our impulses run riot. There is no stopping the urges which come from the emotional centre in our brains.
But as we grow up, we start to develop the part of the brain that allows us to control our aggression - the pre-frontal cortex. Yet crucially, how well this control mechanism works depends on our experiences.
Festival of Violence
Being taught to share and take turns rather than resolve conflict with violence actually changes the physical structure of the brain and therefore makes us less aggressive.
But trying to resolve conflict peaceably is not something all cultures subscribe to. In the Bolivian Andes, one tribe settles disputes which arise over the year in an annual festival of violence, known as the Tinku.
Their warrior tradition dictates that men, women and even children should learn to fight and deaths are not unheard of.
Neuroscientist Maria Couppis argues that their brains are different from the norm because they were socialised to resolve conflicts this way.
This suggests that although we are all born with a violent potential, our upbringing and the environment play a key part in creating violence controls in our brain.
Not only are we born violent, we are also chemically programmed to love it. Inside the brain a pleasure-inducing chemical called dopamine is released when we fight.
Dopamine informs the brain that we're having a good time. But the problem doesn't stop there - the rush we get from dopamine can get us physically addicted to violence. The more we have it, the more we want it.
Are all "ordinary" people potentially violent?
Published by s.b.f on 11 May, 2009 - 15:03
yes - and its not just about dopamine and pleasure. IMO.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
I'm surprised kids under three aren't more crazy/violent then... some are extremely placid and laid back.
Where would personality come in all this then?
I dislike physical violence, and if it happened in front of me it would scare me. The lack of control is what I find scary. I can get angry, but even then resorting to physical violence just doesn't enter my head. Maybe in defence... but perhaps that is different.
Most physical violence I don't understand, especially when disguised as 'sport'. I can watch a boxing match but if it gets all bloody then I find it quite disturbing. Why would you want to do that to somebody???
Yes, everyone is potentially violent.
We all have our inner-demons.
Back in BLACK
Did you watch the Michael Portillo documentory.
Especially where they repeated the Milgram experiment.
“Before death takes away what you are given, give away whatever there is to give.”
Mawlana Jalal ud Din Rumi
Ordinary people are not violent.
Its takes radicalisation to turn a soul to violence.
This is dumb
ANYONE can be violent
it all depends on your personality circumstances etc
a person can just lose their temper in an instant
it takes a lot of self control not to though
Let's go all biblical.
When did Cain kill Abel, who "radicalised" him?
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
The demon, Jealousy.
Cain and Abel is also a metaphor for the dangers of the dark side...of human nature.
Gentleness and kindness were never a part of anything except that it made it beautiful, and harshness was never a part of anything except that it made it ugly.
Through cheating, stealing, and lying, one may get required results but finally one becomes
I edited my post. I was just arguing with Omrow (for the sake of arguing) against the notion that there is necessarily an outside influence on people that forces them to commit evil.
I think people have the ability to commit violence all within themselves without being egged on by other individuals.
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
yes, even you sully!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11057430