The origins of violence

[.Marik]

I felt that it was time for me to make a proper debate thread.

The origins of violence: what exactly are the causes of it?

I thoroughly read an in-depth book about the causes and explanations of human violence. There are many theories about irrational violence, from hereditary and biological factors, to harsh environmental situations, to natural primitive instinct responsible for the "fight or flight mode."

The brain is an extremely complex system responsible for a variety of factors. However, a particular part, called the Amygdala, is responsible for the following factors:

Function:

•Arousal
•Controls Autonomic Responses Associated with Fear
•Emotional Responses
•Hormonal Secretions

In the The Violent Mind, it explains that when particular part(s) of the brain is damaged or malformed, physiological and emotional complications regarding mental health can occur, the victim of the brain abnormalities can become alarmingly dangerous, even if their demeanor and attitude say otherwise.

When another part of the brain is malformed, called the Limbic System, a lower part of the brain that controls emotional behaviour, you can naturally imagine when this part of the brain is damaged what reactions and behaviour can occur.

Can these factors alone create an acceptable basis for human violence? Other explanations for human violence include growing up, or being situated in, a dangerous and hostile environment. Countries at war, broken households, may desensitize children and teenagers to violence, making them more prone to displaying mental health issues and a general lack of empathy for fellow living creatures, because in order to adapt to a harsh environment the children had to meet a required state of mental strength.

Drugs, and alcoholic substances may also alter a normal persons' personality and bring out extreme violence, even for trivial matters.

__________________________________________________________________________

Now, what do you personally think contributes to human violence? Not all children that grow up in dysfunctional households become violent, and even children in wealthy and privileged lifestyles can display cold psychopathic and anti-social disorders.

Only 10% of mentally ill patients become violent.

Many of these theories are debated about, and although there may be general trends, it's a very hard subject to prove or disprove, even with years of scientific medical research.

Just for the record, I'm talking about extreme cases of violence.

So, what are the origins of violence? How can this be proven?

Debate.

 

[Jam Stunna]

Well, how are you defining violence? Do you mean extreme violence (like murder) or just normal violence (like kids fighting at school)? It's not really clear in the OP.

 

[.Marik]

Well, how are you defining violence? Do you mean extreme violence (like murder) or just normal violence (like kids fighting at school)? It's not really clear in the OP.

Sorry.

Extreme, irrational violence. Murder, ****, shooting someone because "you're bored."

I'm talking about the unprovoked, senseless episodes.

*Edit* Clarified in the OP.

 

[KrazyGlue]

Well, I'm no neurological expert, and I certainly can't prove anything. However, from looking at murder cases, you can essentially narrow it down to one cause: mental impairment. This could cover mental diseases (including those caused by growing up in a negative environment), substance abuse, emotions (anger, greed, lust, depression, etc.) getting in the way of judgment, etc.

You mention that not all children growing up in a negative environment become criminals, and that is true. Just look at Dave Pelzer. He was continually abused by his mom: beaten, made to live in the basement, forced to starve, drink ammonia, and worse yet he capitalized it and sold 3 books detailing his abuse. It's all about how the person responds to the situation. Do they feel angry that they have to go through this, or angry that other kids may also have to suffer? Are they sorry for themselves, or are they sorry for other kids in similar situations? Obviously a young child can't be expected to have much empathy, but how they reflect on the situation as an adult is the key factor.

The same situation doesn't apply to mental disorders, as the person suffering from them doesn't really have much control over the situation. Plus we know very little about exactly how most mental disorders work, so it's hard to treat.


Now, if you want to get technical with the word "origins", violence is probably caused by an imbalance of hormones or the inability to process certain hormones.

 

[Sucumbio]

The origins of violence are indeed rooted in biology. It's in our makeup, genetically. Notice its the SAME brain center that's associated with arousal, fear, emotional responses and hormonal secretions. Basically we're engineered to ****. It sucks. We're also engineered to abuse. Violence, perversion, these things have been studied, mused over, written about, talked about... but no amount of intellect can combat genetics.

Fortunately humans have evolved to the point that we can assign consequence to our actions. We have also gained understanding of our "fellow feelings" that thing in your head that makes you know killing is wrong, stealing is wrong, your so-called "conscience."

Also many of our judgments are subconsciously more like a program running:

IF Kill People
THEN Death Penalty
ELSE Feel Guilt
SO do not Kill

Now someone whose brain is not working properly may have a gap in that program somewhere, maybe in the ELSE statement

ELSE Feel Nothing
So why not Kill

To prove that violence is genetic, biological and brain-centric, well... I just use common sense. We're only capable of doing what our brains are capable of allowing us to do. We have no supernatural powers. To raise my arm, my Brain has to be able to tell my arm to raise. To be angry, my Brain has to be able to tell me I am angry. It all goes back to the brain.

If we were Vulcans, we could subdue our emotions to the point that barely anything would anger us, or cause us to be violent. But we are Human, and so we are trapped, doomed to be this way.