Comparative and Evolutionary Perspectives
Comparative and Evolutionary Perspectives
This chapter presents a comparative perspective to help us understand the universal aspects of human aggressive and peaceful tendencies as well as their variation among individuals. Human aggressiveness has a biological basis, but it is neither necessary nor inevitable. Selfish, exploitative, and aggressive tendencies are more common in individuals with fast life histories who are exposed to early stress, violence, harsh parenting, or unpredictable changes in their environment. Comparative research on animal behavior can provide the theoretical framework for understanding the effects of early experience on the development of aggressiveness and peacefulness as well as elucidate some of the physiological or social mechanisms underlying these effects. The findings of comparative research are consistent with those of research in developmental psychology in indicating that a supportive family environment and positive experiences acquired during child development are important prerequisites for the creation of peaceful and resilient adults. Published in the Strungmann Forum Reports Series.
Keywords: aggression, biological basis, peacefulness, biological basis, stress, violence, harsh parenting
MIT Press Scholarship Online requires a subscription or purchase to access the full text of books within the service. Public users can however freely search the site and view the abstracts and keywords for each book and chapter.
Please, subscribe or login to access full text content.
If you think you should have access to this title, please contact your librarian.
To troubleshoot, please check our FAQs, and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.
