Body pleasure and the origins of violence

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists • Vol/Iss. 31 (29) • Published In • Pages: 10-20 •
By Prescott, James W.

Abstract

The author hypothesizes that physical violence is strongly related to the deprivation of physical pleasure. The author tests this hypothesis by looking at the relationship between physical affection towards infants, as well as attitudes towards premarital sex, and several variables related to violence. Results support the hypothesis.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
compendium of coded data

Hypotheses (4)

HypothesisSupported
"Human societies which provide their infants and children with a great deal of physical affection (touching, holding, carrying) would be less physically violent than societies which give very little physical affection to their infants and children" (11-12)Supported
". . . societies which inflect pain and discomfort upon their infants tend to neglect them . . . [and are] more likely to practice slavery, polygamy, [have aggressive gods, and attribute inferior status to women]" (12)Supported
"A society [is not likely to be] physically violent if it is physically affectionate toward its infants and tolerant of premarital sexual behavior" (13)Supported
In societies where premarital sex is strongly punished, community size is larger, slavery is present, societal complexity is high, personl crime is high, class stratification is high, incidence of theft is high, extramarital sex is punished, wives are purchased, castration anxiety is high, bellicosity is extreme, sex disability is high, killing, torturing and mutilating the enemy is high, narcissism is high, exhibitionistic dancing is emphasized, there are small extended families, longer postpartum sex taboos, and a high god in human morality (14)Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: mas  Megan Farrer