Guess I'm a bit surprised that this question is even being asked. As most folks know, books about the source of violence reveal that adolescents and adults who are violent and kill consistently had an abusive childhood.
http://www.screamsfromchildhood.com/child-abuse-murder.html http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ap/ad/2002/00000025/00000002/art00462 And, as it turns out, childhood was no picnic for most of human history. As discussed in the book by Lloyd deMause, The History of Childhood, child abuse was relatively ubiquitous until the last century and the idyllic view of childhood in the 'days of yore' was pure fabrication that suited folks favored perspectives as opposed to being a reality. The URL below describes the resentment and adversity he confronted when he discovered how wrong the original ideal view of childhood through the ages was. It makes for fascinating reading and provides yet another example of how we humans are NOT pleased when conventional wisdom is challenged. http://www.psychohistory.com/childhood/writech1.htm Hence, with far higher levels of child abuse, came far higher levels of murder and violence. For those interested in how abuse impact neurodevelopment, the URL below will take you to a excellent article on that topic. http://www.childtrauma.org/ctamaterials/Vio_child.asp Joan [email protected] > Steven Pinker asks whether modern society is more violent than in earlier > supposed idyllic times. His verdict is no. > > http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/greatergood/2009april/Pinker054.php > > Stephen > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. > Professor of Psychology, Emeritus > Bishop's University e-mail: [email protected] > 2600 College St. > Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 > Canada > > Subscribe to discussion list (TIPS) for the teaching of > psychology at http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/ > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([email protected]) > > --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
