Psychobiology of Conflict (original) (raw)
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Evolutionary Psychology and Warfare
SAGE Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology, 2020
The scientific study of the evolution of human coalitional aggression has exploded over the last three decades. In four parts, I explore and integrate many of the useful frameworks that have emerged to describe and explain the human practice of intergroup violence. First, we have a clearer understanding of the general conditions required for the evolution of adaptations for coalitional aggression. Second, given an understanding of these conditions, we can more usefully examine the historic and prehistoric record for evidence of the existence of these conditions. Third, I explore and integrate current lab and field evidence for psychological adaptations for coalitional aggression. This section reveals a core dynamic underlying all forms of coalitional aggression: the form of intergroup engagement is functionally linked with the emergent patterns of intragroup dynamics. In other words, how we fight “abroad” determines how we cooperate “at home,” and vice versa. I examine five areas of inquiry that suggest special design for coalitional aggression. These are: the collective action problem of coordinated violence; parochial altruism; attacker-defender asymmetries; leader-follower dynamics; sex differences in the costs and benefits of violence. Fourth, and to conclude, I offer speculation on the historical emergence of modern human warfare. I do not use “coalitional aggression” and “warfare” interchangeably; rather, evolved psychological adaptations for small-scale coalitional aggression are what make the historical emergence of large-scale human warfare possible.
Medical Hypotheses, 2009
According to a widespread opinion shared by the vast majority of historians, instances of aggression using pathogen weapons constitute extremely rare events in human history. Similarly, students of human behaviour tend to believe that their science plays no role in explaining this phenomenon, which is held to be exceptional and abnormal. Contrary to this dominant view, I argue that Hamiltonian spite -like Hamiltonian altruism -is an inherent part of the human behavioural repertoire and it includes the use of pathogens for spiteful purposes. This paradigm is supported by the following observations. The use of pathogens as weapons emerged far before the scientific understanding of the nature of infections and epidemics, though it has been underrepresented in written history ever since. It is also present in our expectations concerning the likely behaviour of an enemy and it is also a frequent component of threats. Several languages appear to bear linguistic references to our motivation for biological aggression in profanity. Finally, given that wartime epidemics kill people at a rate comparable to (or exceeding) that of mechanical weapons, all wars fought in recorded history incorporated an element of aggression through biological means. On the basis of these arguments, I claim that the motivation for biological aggression is an inherent and common aspect of past and present human behaviour.
Biological Roots of Human Conflict
Journal of Conflictology, 2014
espanolLas raices biologicas de los conflictos humanos son antiguas en la historia de la evolucion y profundas de modo acorde. Por suerte, algunas de nuestras tendencias humanas mas destructivas pueden mitigarse o eliminarse gracias a la evolucion cultural. Pero dado que la cultura es a la biologia lo que el software es al hardware, hay que entender adecuadamente la naturaleza biologica de los conflictos para inspirar soluciones efectivas y, yendo mas alla, construir unas culturas de paz duraderas. Este articulo se centra en las raices biologicas de los conflictos humanos. Una continuacion giraria en torno a la resolucion de conflictos a traves de la evolucion cultural. catalaLes arrels biologiques dels conflictes humans venen de lluny en la seva evolucio i son, per tant, profundes. Per sort, algunes de les nostres tendencies humanes mes destructives poden ser mitigades o eliminades mitjancant l’evolucio cultural. Pero ates que la cultura es per a la biologia el mateix que el progra...
The psychobiology of aggression and violence: bioethical implications
International Social Science Journal, 2010
The main focus of his research interests is psychobiology or the study of the biological and cerebral basis of the mind and behaviour. His studies have covered neurochemistry, psychopharmacology, ethnopharmacology, ethology, the mind-body problem the nature of consciousness, cognitive science and epistemology. His recent publications include H. Vargas-Pe´rez, L.
Expanding Evolutionary Psychology: toward a Better Understanding of Violence and Aggression
Social Science Information, 2003
The “mainstream” evolutionary psychology model is currently under criticism from scientists of other persuasions wanting to expand the model or to make it more realistic in various ways. We argue that focusing on the environment as if it consisted only of social (or sociocultural) factors gives too limited a perspective if evolutionary approaches are to understand the behavior of modern humans. Taking the case of violence, we argue that numerous novel environmental factors of nutritional and physical-chemical origin should be considered as relevant proximate factors. The common thesis presented here is that several aspects of the biotic or abiotic environment are able to change brain chemistry, thus predisposing individuals to violence and aggression in given contexts. In the past, aggressive behavior has had a number of useful functions that were of particular importance to our ancestors' survival and reproduction. However, some of the conditions in our novel environment, which...
Human aggression in evolutionary psychological perspective
Clinical Psychology Review, 1997
This article proposes an evolutionary psychological account of human aggression. The psychological mechanisms underlying aggression are hypothesized to he context-sensitive solutions to particular adaptive problems of social living. Seven adaptive problems are prqbosed for which aggression might have evolved as a solution -co-opting the resources of others, defending against attack, inflicting costs on same-sex rivals, negotiating status and power hierarchies, deterring rivals from future aggression, deterring mates from sexual infidelity, and reducing resources expended on genetically unrelated children. We outline several of the con texts in which humans confront these adaptive problems and the evolutionary logic of why men are cross-culturally more violently aggressive than women in particular contexts. The article con eludes with a limited review of the empirical evidence surrounding each of the seven hypothesized functions of aggression and discusses the status and limitations of the current evolutionary psychological account. 0 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd ANCIENT HOMINID skeletal remains have been discovered that contain cranial and rib fractures that appear inexplicable except by the force of clubs and weapons that stab (Trinkaus & Zimmerman, 1982). Fragments from the weapons are occasionally found lodged in skeletal rib cages. As paleontological detective work has become increasingly sophisticated, evidence of violence among our ancestors has mush-
Biological Roots of Human Conflict, and its Resolution via Cultural Evolution
Journal of Conflictology, 2014
The biological roots of human conflict are evolutionarily ancient, and correspondingly deep. Fortunately, some of our most destructive human tendencies can be mitigated or obviated by cultural evolution. But since culture is to biology as software is to hardware, one must correctly understand the biological nature of conflict in order to nurture effective resolutions, and beyond that to build enduring cultures of peace. This paper focuses on the biological roots of human conflict. A sequel would focus on conflict resolution via cultural evolution.
Evolutionary theories of violent conflict, bellicosity and radicalization
2024
Changing patterns of warfare require a revision of our theories of psychological mechanisms behind violent conflict. The article explains some evolutionary theories that can improve our understanding of the deep-rooted psychological mechanisms behind bellicosity, radicalization, escalation, and cultural changes related to war. An evolutionary theory called regality theory explains why collective danger can lead to political and religious radicalization and move a culture in an authoritarian, bellicose, and undemocratic direction. This theory also reveals why both terrorism and counterterrorism tactics are likely to be counterproductive. Biological theory of sexual selection explains why, historically, most warriors and war leaders have been men. A combination of these theories explains the psychological and cultural mechanisms that leaders and military strategists have exploited in the tactics of false flag attacks and other deceptive manipulations of fear. The territorial peace theory explains why democracy cannot be imposed by military means. This kind of causal theories can be very useful for conflict and peace research and for peacemaking.