Essays and Theories of Violence
Violence has been around since the dawn of time. There are many schools of thought on the subject. The nature vs nurture debate constantly arises with violence. Some people believe that we are inherently violent and it is born within us. Others feel it is a learned behavior. Some, a combination of the two. Here is some more research on the subject...
The Origins of Violence- Ian Pitchford
Abstract: Violence has been attributed to many causes including mental illness, brain damage, child abuse, and social deprivation. This article provides a brief overview of some recent work on sociopathy and psychopathy and argues that models of violence, and explanations of violent acts such as rape and homicide, need to accommodate the possibility that a large proportion of such acts are committed by individuals whose psychology is very different to that of the general population.
Violence and Human Nature- Howard Zinn
Intro: A discussion on "human nature" seems inevitable in any discussion of war and its causes. And the belief in some innate human drive for war is very widespread. As someone involved constantly in arguments about the reasons for war, I could not simply dismiss, without examination, that belief. I turned to my own experience in World War II for clues, and also to survey what scientific evidence I could find on whether, indeed, there exists a "war instinct."
The Seville Statement On Violence- 20 Signatories
Intro: The Seville Statement on Violence was drafted by an international committee of 20 scholars at the 6th International Colloquium on Brain and Aggression held at the University of Seville, Spain, in May 1986, with support from the Spanish Commission for UNESCO. The Statement's purpose is to dispel the widespread belief that human beings are inevitably disposed to war as a result of innate, biologically determined aggressive traits.
Intro: Violence is the exertion of physical force so as to injure or abuse. The word is used broadly to describe the destructive action of natural phenomena like storms and earthquakes. More frequently the word describes forceful human destruction of property or injury to persons, usually intentional, and forceful verbal and emotional abuse that harms others.
Intro: Philosophically, examining war begins with very general questions: What is war? How can it be defined? What causes war? What is the relationship between human nature and war? To what extent can humans be said to be responsible for war? The philosophy of war then converges onto more specific and applied ethical and political questions such as: Is it ever right to wage war? Should certain acts of war be impermissible? What should be the legitimate authority to declare war? What is the individual's moral and political relationship to his comrades or countrymen in arms? The philosophy of war covers theoretical and applied areas and this article explores some of the general issues as well as connections that may be made for further consideration.
Violence and The Brain- Jennifer Sabo
Intro: Is there a biological basis for violent behavior in the brain? Recent research links "neurological impairments and psychoses" to violent behavior. The "psychological effects" of brain damage and disease can cause the mind to lose touch with reality leading to criminal and violent behavior. As a result, free will may be deserted in an individual suffering from abnormalities and chemical imbalances in the brain. Consequently, legal issues arise because violent offenders with mental illnesses or brain injuries are not always to blame due to the biological nature of their diseases. However, violence in psychiatric and neurological patients can be prevented for the most part through medication and "social support services".
Brain Study Sheds Light On Impulsive Violence - Science Daily
Intro: The human brain is wired with natural checks and balances that control negative emotions, but breakdowns in this regulatory system appear to heighten risk of violent behavior, according to findings of a study by UW-Madison psychologist Richard Davidson.