Another good question :) I suppose it depends on autism, mental functioning, memories, or any other thing where the brain has trouble working properly. If someone remembers something that has traumatized them, they can turn violent, but only cos they've let that awful event get to them. Some people have left the army turning into violent people. I just have trouble believing that EVERYONE can be violent at the drop of a hat. Something has to give. Surely.

http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/episodes/2011/02/28/the-scapgoat-rene-girards-anthropology-of-violence-and-religion/

got 5 hours?, these will answer questions, very simple, very complicated-i've listened to them many times, very cool-
must have open mind, be able to hold two opposing thoughts at once-
for instance i'm not christian, but jesus had the answer-
this explains human violence and the key to understanding it
(no religious arguments,please,but i'm up for discussing mimetic theory any time!)

Makes enough sense.

I don't care what anybody says cause it's a fact anyone is capable of doing anything(meaning a violent act)at anytime.Everyone has a breaking point some just haven't or may not ever reach it.

Hey
eddie, you can prove anything either way with the right research. Check out Andrew Vachss' website theZero. I once read an interview with Park Dietz, the last question was if he thought humans were good or evil- he refused to answer it.

I don't believe humans are naturally violent. But as a species we will show a great amount of aggression, usually a learned behavior, in protecting a tribe or territory. And aggression does at times lead to violence.

Laughing my *** off of COURSE humans are a naturally violent animal, WW1, WW2, Cold War, Korea Vietnam, and now all the slaughter over seas. Please.

Is every single human that has ever existed violent?

If not why?

Is it possible that violence is not natural but a learned response? I think to answer this you have to ask yourself what does it mean for something to be natural.

I often get into long conversations on this exact thing, the definition of natural is the real problem.

Violence is an action. So we have to ask are we in control of our actions?

Does human control go beyond what it means to be natural?

The topic is very much greater than the examples of human violence.

I agree.



Yes. I don't believe that it is only a learned response, but all the 'evidence' being presented for 'innate violence' could certainly have happened even if violence was only learned.



I'm not sure its even a useful word for us to use. There are too many distinct and often unexamined notions of what 'natural' might mean to the different participants in a conversation.

I do think its useful to ask about a human's 'genetic predispositions' and its interesting to speculate on 'the kinds of behavior a human might exhibit, absent the influence of of human culture.' But what the hell is 'natural' ?

Man Massage, if you are ever in the north florida area we have to hang out. I bet we would have some awesome conversations!

I agree. I ask the question about natural for that very reason.

The OP's question is man "naturally violent" is not the same thing as hitting the breaking point.....I imagine every normal human being has a breaking point...It may or may not lead to an act of violence....

No, mentally and emotionally stable human beings are not violent by nature...and by nature what I take that to mean is genetically predisposed to uncontrollable acts of violence.....Some are, but this is because, for whatever reason (and there could be several), they are not normal....

I think Leigh beings up a salient point.

Control.

Does Nature denote a lack of control.

Instinctual rage, reflexive response, animal instinct. Does reason and control denote thoughtful intelligence, and instinctual emotional response denote natural tendencies?

Controllable vs: uncontrollable is the point.....Naturally violent vs: unnaturally violent this is the OP's question....Also, is rage instinctual?...I personally don't think so...Reflexive response yes, but controlled reflexes or uncontrolled reflexes?....Is emotion instinctual? Yes some is, but some is not....