I remember doing a course in relation to assessing risk of violence in individuals. The psych running the course was asked the question: are humans inherently non-violent ("On Killing" was referenced).
His response: go to any kindergarten and look to the number of reports of *biting* and to a lesser extent punching/hitting etc. Our natural instinct is violence, that later gets tempered by society/environment, but it lurks there, ever present.
I agree. I’ve read both ‘On Killing’ and ‘On Combat’, although I have in later years heard criticisms of his interpretations and theories. But that is probably more academic. I think our propensity to violence is clear, and we temper it with laws and social norms. But we also use those same social norms, e.g., religion, to justify violence. So as you say, it lurks there, waiting to be sanctioned.
Wow!! Brilliant writing, if only more people could think as you do! I'm off to throw myself under a bus now!
I'll join you :) Thanks Karin, I really appreciate that! (The writing comment more than the bus!)
Thankful to know people like you exist & have a platform.
Thank you, I really appreciate that.
I remember doing a course in relation to assessing risk of violence in individuals. The psych running the course was asked the question: are humans inherently non-violent ("On Killing" was referenced).
His response: go to any kindergarten and look to the number of reports of *biting* and to a lesser extent punching/hitting etc. Our natural instinct is violence, that later gets tempered by society/environment, but it lurks there, ever present.
I agree. I’ve read both ‘On Killing’ and ‘On Combat’, although I have in later years heard criticisms of his interpretations and theories. But that is probably more academic. I think our propensity to violence is clear, and we temper it with laws and social norms. But we also use those same social norms, e.g., religion, to justify violence. So as you say, it lurks there, waiting to be sanctioned.