Citation

Shamsie SJ. Can. J. Psychiatry 1985; 30(7): 498-503.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1985, Canadian Psychiatric Association, Publisher SAGE Publications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

4075274

Abstract

Violence is looked at from ethological, biological and anthropological points of view. The family is examined to determine the roots of violence. Various prospective studies are reviewed to assess the role of temperament, social, familial and economic factors facilitating the development of antisocial and violent behaviour in the youth. There is also a look at the violence committed by groups, nations or governments in the name of God, flag or a just cause. The role that mental health professionals could play in preventing the development of violent behaviour is discussed.

VioLit summary:

OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study by Shamsie was to provide a literature review of violence from ethological, biological, and anthropological perspectives. It also examined the familial, social, and economic precursors to violence in youth.

METHODOLOGY:
This study involved a literature review of many different aspects of violence. Ethological, anthropological, and biological explanations were critiqued historically and methodologically. Research studying the role of the family in violence was also detailed. Violence in war is also discussed. Methods of treatment and prevention of violence were detailed, especially the role of mental health care providers.

FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
Ethologists, historically, argued that violence was instinctual and beyond individuals' control. While the fact that only 10 out of 105 generations of humans have been nonviolent seems to support this perspective, the differences in violence between men and women, between urban and rural residents, and between the young and old were not adequately explained by ethologists. Anthropologists were discussed as documenting small societies or tribes which were nonviolent and peaceful, further refuting the instinctual argument. Biological studies have found some evidence, through twin and adoption studies, of a biological connection to violence. Biological factors, such as irregular EEGs and the number of Y chromosomes, have provided some evidence that certain aspects of biology may provide a predisposition to violence. However, the author warned that these connections are not that strong. Studies on the family have found that aggression and violence are more likely to occur between people who are close to each other rather than strangers. Studies have found that many families utilize aggression and violence in child- rearing and often there exists a sub-culture of violence which condones these practices. Temperament has been found to be one factor which might explain why some children in abusive families become abusive and some do not. The existence of violence on a national level, such as war, was then discussed. Some researchers have claimed that because humans are capable of self-transcendence, we are capable of transcending our emotions and reason for ideological reasons and can, therefore, justify mass levels of violence against an "enemy". The implications of violence for mental health professionals was then discussed. Because it is so difficult to treat and rehabilitate violent offenders, predicting the likelihood of violence and intervening before that violence begins were detailed as the most effective methods of preventing further violence. Examples of some of the precursors of violence in youth were harsh parental discipline, parents with criminal records, poor parental supervision, separation from parents at an early age, and low IQ. This study concluded that violence is a learned behavior which is maintained, reinforced and rewarded.

AUTHOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS:
The author suggested that those in the mental health field need to focus more on the group, societal, national and global levels of violence as well as the individual and family levels. The author stressed the need for a cultural analysis of violence, looking at what role the beliefs and actions of our schools, communities, media and governments play in our culture of violence. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)

Language: en