ANATOMY OF VIOLENCE Biological, Ethological, & Sociological Explanations of Violence Dr. Ande Nesmith 22 Sept. 2022 AGENDA • Introductions • Discussion expectations • Explanations of Violence: • Biological • Ethological • Sociological DR. ANDE NESMITH University of St. Thomas Morrison Family College of Health School of Social Work Director Associate Professor Fulbright Scholar in the Czech Republic - Ostrava Email: nesm3326@stthomas.edu TELL ME ABOUT YOU • Name - help me with pronunciation • What country are you from? • What degree are you working toward? (if any) • Why are you interested in this class? WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE CAUSE OF VIOLENCE IN FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, AND SOCIETY? • Read the statements in your group. • What is your reaction to them? • Are any similar to your own statements? In what ways? • Are any very different? what argument might one make for that other opinion? Take a moment to write an answer Violence Aggressive and/or harmful behavior Aggression Behavior that is physically or psychologically harmful BRIEF DEFINITIONS TYPES OF VIOLENCEIndividual Collective Injurious force directed by one person against another person or people A group, government, directing injurious force against others. Usually to achieve political, economic, or social objectives TYPES OF VIOLENCE Expressive: emotionally-motivated violent behavior Instrumental: A means to an end Interpersonal: Assault, rape, robbery, murder Institutional: Violent behaviors perpetrated in an organizational setting Structural: Discriminatory social arrangements that can be construed as violent; social inequality TYPES OF VIOLENCE Expressive: emotionally-motivated violent behavior Instrumental: A means to an end Interpersonal: Assault, rape, robbery, murder Institutional: Violent behaviors perpetrated in an organizational setting Structural: Discriminatory social arrangements that can be construed as violent; social inequality All Violence is Connected Unity of Human Aggression Victims not innocent Justify Violent History Multiple contexts Examples: Football and intimate partners Military (war zones) and intimate partners BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS FOR VIOLENCE THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF VIOLENCE Two characteristics appear across most violence, in all its forms, regardless of country or time period: Young Male Most violence in the world is attributed to young men CHEMICALS IN OUR BODIES •Low levels of serotonin associated with violent behavior because their ability to control their aggressive behavior is diminished Serotonin •Some evidence that male aggression is linked with levels of testosterone. Most violence is perpetrated by young males Testosterone WHAT IS SERATONIN? A chemical in the brain Also known as a neurotransmitter NEURONS Chemicals such as serotonin help that communication NEUROTRANSMITTER • A chemical released at the end of a nerve fiber • It is released when a nerve impulse arrives • It jumps into the gap (synapse) • This triggers an impulse to another nerve fiber SERATONIN Regulates moods • Also regulates: • Social Behavior • Sleep • Appetite • Memory • Sexual desire Fluctuations in Seratonin • Haven’t eaten • Stressed • Affects part of brain regions that enable people to regulate anger Low levels of Seratonin cause: • Depression • Poor impulse control • Anxiety • Aggression EMOTION REGULATION • Emotion regulation is relevant to both violence and impulse control • Aggressive individuals • Difficulty with impulse control • Difficulty with emotional regulation • Impaired social cognition INCREASES IN SERATONIN Do you exercise? What kind? How do you feel afterward? How do you feel when you have not eaten in awhile? How do you feel on sunny days? FOOD EXERCISE BRIGHT LIGHT MASSAGE HOWEVER, RESEARCH ALSO FINDS… Serotonin dysfunction influences aggression differently depending on the individual’s baseline impulse control, emotional regulation, and social abilities Strong emotional states often accompany violent acts that are considered impulsive. Irritability and temper outbursts are often present in violent or impulsive individuals TESTOSTERONE Testosterone plays significant role in: • Stimulates the part of the brain involved in aggression and the muscular system • Combination of stimulated strength and aggressive instincts can lead to aggressive behaviors • Production of testosterone starts to increase significantly during puberty • Begins to dip after age 30 OTHER BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS Brain injury Brain function is affected by injuries, tumors, and other kinds of head trauma Antisocial personality disorder Unable to empathize or feel compassion for others. Narcissistic, reckless, and emotionally shallow. ETHOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS Aggression is seen in all species Innate behavior of animals is understood by studying them in their natural environment Aggressive behavior is adaptive to the specific species Animal behavior in natural environments BREAKOUT 2: AGGRESSION IN NON-HUMAN ANIMALS • Maternal protection of young • Fear when no escape • Mating • Status • Defense of territory • Predatory hunting 1. Have you ever seen a dog behave aggressively? What was the situation? Why do you think they were behaving that way? 2. What are reasons that an animal may act aggressively? Name as many reasons as you can. 3. For each of these situations, what is the adaptive function? That is, what purpose do they serve? ETHOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS FOR HUMAN AGGRESSION Frustration-aggression hypothesis Violence is one possible response for individuals who feel frustrated and thwarted in achieving something Stress and violence Many minority populations live in impoverished and difficult life situations and these situations are largely responsible for their higher levels of violent crime SOCIOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL VIOLENCE JUSTIFICATION AND DESENSITIZATION • Perceived humiliation→rage • Retaliation or defense of principles “Righteous Slaughter” • Killings by the state desensitize and devalue human life • Leads to increased collective tolerance of lethal behavior Brutalization Hypothesis • Justifications for violence in socially approved settings • “Spills over” into other settings • Creates legitimacy Spillover Theory Wars/fighting between ethnic or religious groups Government-sanctioned SPILLOVER EFFECT EXAMPLES When Some forms of Violence are Legitimized by Government or Culture Spanking Children • Spanked children grow up to be more violent War • Countries recently at war have higher homicide rates in the “peacetime” after a war Death Penalty • States with the highest death penalty rates also have the highest homicide rates ECONOMIC DEPRIVATION • Crime rates are higher in poorer regions…of the world, in the U.S. • Struggle for survival is intense • Income inequality is strongly associated with violent crime Most poor people never engage in crime, let alone violent crime STRAIN THEORY • Knowing there is a better life available but not to you • Frustration, anger • In U.S., comparing with the American Dream • Pressure to do illegal things to achieve some part of the societal dream or goals. ANOMIE AND ADAPTATION • Anomie is the absence of the typical social and ethical standards – can apply to an individual or group • When our society’s pathways to success are denied to some groups and they turn to violence to gain a sense of success • Individuals may choose from a variety of adaptations, some of which may more often result in an increased risk of violence BREAKOUT 3 (IF TIME) • Is violence ever justified? Explain. • Do you think humans are less or more violent than we used to be? • Why does violence sell? (media, video games, films) • What interventions for violence are in your community? • Are any of these preventive? Explain. • What kind of violence is addressed? SOCIAL LEARNING • People, especially children, learn through observation, both positive and negative behaviors • Just because a person learns something does not mean they will change their behavior MODELS • All kinds of models, but children only pay attention and mimic some of them • More likely to copy from a person to whom the child can relate or sees a similarity • Negative behavior can be appealing because it draws attention…or power COLLECTIVE VIOLENCE AUTHORITY • As long as someone else is responsible for the final outcome, ok with violence • Ongoing experiences that make people willing to obey authority • Desire to follow authority is more powerful than the stress of cooperating VIOLENCE ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT • Worldwide, especially repressive governments • Used to control political opponents • As a weapon of war • To sustain a reign of fear that will prevent the general public from rising up for fighting back. • To break up communities and family units DEINDIVIDUATION • Lost of sense of self and individuality when in a group – normal restraints are not in place • Where “collective mind takes possession of the individual” – Le Bon • Behavioral characteristics • Lessening of conscious individual personality • Convergence of thoughts and emotions in a common direction • Emotions and unconscious drive displace reason and rationality • Propensity to immediately carry out intentions as they develop DEHUMANIZATION Groups possess legitimacy and authority • Perception that victims are less than us or even less than human • Increased social distance RELIGIOUS OR IDEOLOGICAL CONVICTION • Comfortable with their actions because of conviction • Most common in authoritarian regimes • Violence and torture from this type often results in extreme forms • because convictions provide strong support that their detainees are inhuman EMPATHY • Can be learned! • Early on can mitigate impact of violence • The promotion and development of empathy-related skills are useful in the reduction of aggressive or antisocial behaviors. • NEXT CLASS TAUGHT BY DR. NESMITH 7 Dec. Violence in Entertainment