5.11.2009
"It is by no means self-evident that human beings are most real when most violently excited; violent physical passions do not in themselves differentiate men from each other, but rather tend to reduce them to the same state." - Thomas Elliot
So we all like to think of ourselves as decent people, right?
Ever ask yourself why you enjoy action movies so much?
Why are some of the most popular and highly rated video games violence related?
Why are some countries so rich with violence and others more peaceful? Is it that they learn this violence? Or is it that they already have it in them?
I read this article on the BBC website that really intrigued me. It answered some of my questions as to why I'm so attracted to violence but have no inclination toward being violent.
Up until an infant turns 3, they have no forms of restraint. Infants let loose their emotions until they learn to control them and learn that such actions are socially unacceptable. Ever heard of the period in a child's infancy called "Terrible Two"? According to Brain Explorer, the prefrontal lobe is responsible for controlling human behavior. Prior to learning what is "acceptable" behavior, human beings are born violent. Our experiences and teachings are what calm us down and keep the beast in its cage.
So is your newborn little "angel" less angelic than you thought? Not necessarily.
We learn socially acceptable behavior by being taught to share, not to harm others, and other things of the sort. However, it is even easier to "unlearn" this behavior. One simple traumatic experience, or a promise of freedom from consequences may cause a person to let go of their learned behavior and be violent.
It's gratifying to be violent. The human body releases a chemical called dopamine when we engage in these activities and it's a physically gratifying feeling. Along with the adrenaline rush, the human body can't help but love to be violent.
So when you ask yourself why your next door neighbor suddenly went bananas, think twice. Maybe he didn't go nuts. Maybe he was just doing what he was born to do, as disturbing as it may sound.
Will we result in our own destruction because of this?
That all depends on us and how we condition ourselves to resist these urges. That is, after all, what separates us from regular primates. The ability to resist our own nature.
Ever ask yourself why you enjoy action movies so much?
Why are some of the most popular and highly rated video games violence related?
Why are some countries so rich with violence and others more peaceful? Is it that they learn this violence? Or is it that they already have it in them?
I read this article on the BBC website that really intrigued me. It answered some of my questions as to why I'm so attracted to violence but have no inclination toward being violent.
Up until an infant turns 3, they have no forms of restraint. Infants let loose their emotions until they learn to control them and learn that such actions are socially unacceptable. Ever heard of the period in a child's infancy called "Terrible Two"? According to Brain Explorer, the prefrontal lobe is responsible for controlling human behavior. Prior to learning what is "acceptable" behavior, human beings are born violent. Our experiences and teachings are what calm us down and keep the beast in its cage.
So is your newborn little "angel" less angelic than you thought? Not necessarily.
We learn socially acceptable behavior by being taught to share, not to harm others, and other things of the sort. However, it is even easier to "unlearn" this behavior. One simple traumatic experience, or a promise of freedom from consequences may cause a person to let go of their learned behavior and be violent.
It's gratifying to be violent. The human body releases a chemical called dopamine when we engage in these activities and it's a physically gratifying feeling. Along with the adrenaline rush, the human body can't help but love to be violent.
So when you ask yourself why your next door neighbor suddenly went bananas, think twice. Maybe he didn't go nuts. Maybe he was just doing what he was born to do, as disturbing as it may sound.
Will we result in our own destruction because of this?
That all depends on us and how we condition ourselves to resist these urges. That is, after all, what separates us from regular primates. The ability to resist our own nature.
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