Violence: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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Societies regulate the use of violence through socio-cultural customs and mores and through codified legal systems defining violent [[crime]]. Most societies recognize a right to violent [[self-defense|defense of self and others]].

==Psychology and Sociology==

The causes of violent behavior in humans are often research topics in [[psychology]] and [[sociology]]. Neurobiologist Jan Volavka emphasizes that for those purposes, “violent behavior is defined as overt and intentional physically aggressive behavior against another person."<ref> [http://neuro.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/reprint/11/3/307.pdf The Neurobiology of Violence, An Update], Journal of Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 11:3, Summer 1999.</ref>

Scientists disagree on whether violence is inherent in humans. Among prehistoric humans, there is archaeological evidence for both contentions of violence and peacefulness as primary characteristics.<ref> Heather Whipps, [http://www.livescience.com/history/060316_peace_violence.html Peace or War? How early humans behaved], LiveScience.Com, March 16, 2006.</ref>

[[Riane Eisler]], who describes early matriarchal societies, and [[Walter Wink]], who coined the phrase “the myth of redemptive violence,” suggest that human violence, especially as organized in groups, is a phenomenon of the last five to ten thousand years.

The “violent male ape” image is often brought up in discussions of human violence. Peterson and Wrangham in “Demonic Males: Apes and the Origins of Human Violence” write that violence is inherent in humans.<ref>{{cite book

| last = Peterson | first = Dale

| coauthors = Richard Wrangham

| year = 1997

| title = [[Demonic Males: Apes and the Origins of Human Violence]]

| publisher = Mariner Books

}} ISBN 0-395-87743-1

.</ref>

However, William L. Ury, editor of a book called “Debunking the "Killer Ape" Myth Must We Fight? From the Battelfield to the Schoolyard--A New Perspective on Violent Conflict and Its Prevention” brings together discussions from two Harvard Law School symposiums. The conclusion was that “we also have lots of natural mechanisms for cooperation, to keep conflict in check, to channel aggression, and to overcome conflict. These are just as natural to us as the aggressive tendencies."<ref> Cindy Fazzi, [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3923/is_200205/ai_n9060833 Debunking the "killer ape" myth],

Dispute Resolution Journal, May-Jul 2002.</ref>

James Gilligan writes violence is often pursued as an antidote to shame or humiliation.<ref>{{cite book

| last = Gilligan | first = James

| year = 1996

| title = Violence: Our Deadly Epidemic and Its Causes

| publisher = Putnam Adult

}} ISBN 0-399-13979-6

.</ref> The use of violence often is a source of pride and a defense of honor, especially among males who often believe violence defines manhood.<ref>[http://www.emotionalcompetency.com/violence.htm Emotional Competency]; Dr. Michael Obsatz,[http://www.angeresources.com/shamebased.html From Shame-Based Masculinity to Holistic Manhood], Robin Morgan, The Demon Lover On the Sexuality of Terrorism, W.W. Norton, 1989, Chapter 5.</ref>

Stephen Pinker in a [[The New Republic|New Republic]] article “The History of Violence” offers evidence that on the average the amount and cruelty of violence to humans and animals has decreased over the last few centuries.<ref>Stephen Pinker, [http://pinker.wjh.harvard.edu/articles/media/2007_03_19_New%20Republic.pdf The History of Violence], The New Republic, March 19, 2007.</ref>

==Psychology and Sociology==