Humans And Their Relationship To Violence
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Humans And Their Relationship To Violence

Why do we enjoy violence?

376
Humans And Their Relationship To Violence
Pexels

The bible tells us in the seventh Commandment that one cannot kill. But according to both historical and present statistical data, the interspecies kill rate for humans is about 2.3%, and this has been consistent since prehistory. The enjoyment many derive from violent entertainment, including MMA, boxing, American football, video games, TV, and movies among other physical and electronic activities and media, is disturbing in its similarity to what people now view as inhumane and barbaric, such as gladiator fights in Ancient Rome (they did not kill, as is commonly believed).

My question was: why do we feel so excited to view these instances of violence, real or virtual, and is there any connection between that and the high killing rate within our own species, including but certainly not limited to, war?

Evolution, as usual, comes in to play here. “Fitness” is a well-known, but equally misunderstood term used within conversations about evolution. Fitness is all encompassing and is not made-up of just literal physical fitness like stamina and strength, but also includes mental and emotional attributes (if applicable), cognition, intelligence, and physical attributes like having a tail, being bipedal or quadrupedal, what the organism eats, etc.

Genetically, most humans are primed to enjoy violence, to be rewarded with endorphins, specifically dopamine, that induce a sense of pleasure and that drive us to do healthy things like eating and reproducing (and sometimes unhealthy things, like addiction). This disturbing pleasure we receive from violence also served us during our time as hunter-gatherers, as we continued to evolve and become more socially inclined, creating paranoia, and increasing the fitness of our species.

At first, warfare wasn’t as deadly, with melee and simple projectile weapons like bows reigning dominant. But then, people began organizing into countries, and the science of weaponry grew as these nations competed to gain a competitive advantage in the game of war in the form of bigger weapons that can kill or injure more combatants.

This game eventually culminated into the perpetually tense nuclear atmosphere that has dominated the political climate of the world since the Second World War, but even though world peace would benefit us all tremendously, we simply cannot kick this inclination towards violence.

Now, like most of our impulses, we can control this. Government and police forces have reigned in this need for violence, with entrepreneurs finding ways to exploit this dopamine gusher through less personal means. In terms of entertainment, violence becomes fun only if we maintain control over the situation.

This is why watching from the benches in a stadium or using a controller to control a virtual avatar is fun and not nearly as stressful as raiding an enemy tribe for resources, or defending oneself against similar attacks. There is little adrenaline to counteract the dopamine rush, leading to entertainment, and a reinforcement of this enjoyment.

Is this moral? It is a known fact that nature cares little for anything, especially morality, but humans do. In my personal opinion, this is something that is deeply embedded within us as humans. It isn’t an enjoyment we can simply rid ourselves of and, considering studies have shown that those who have little to no propensity for real-life violence are hardly affected if at all by violence as entertainment, I say that there isn’t anything wrong with it.

It is sometimes difficult to admit that we as humans are still animals that still fall to our instincts and impulses, even if it seems like we are in control of them. However, I say that indulging these impulses in safe and nonharmful ways seems more conducive to our well-beings than simply repressing them and pretending that they do not exist. I play first-person shooters sometimes, among other violent video games.

I enjoy violent media, as well as nonviolent media, and yet I have had no serious thoughts about harming any people or animals. Sometimes anger, of course, can cause these urges, but I can control them. I accept that I derive enjoyment from violent things, just as I accept my emotions, faults, impulses, and so on.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

55397
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

35687
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

957727
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

185572
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments