14.Violence and Peace

Question 1

What are the theories of violence?

Answer 1

1. Sociobiological
2. Anthropological challenges
   a) Wrong view of human nature
   b) Ignores structural factors that cause violence

Question 2

What does the sociobiological approach have to say about violence?

Answer 2

1. Fighting is part of human nature
2. Adopt evolutionary stance
3. Culture evolves to limit violence
   (all Chagnon 1968)

Question 3

What do anthropological challenges to the sociobiological approach have to say about violence?

Answer 3

1. ‘Human nature as violent’ rests upon a Western view of human nature (Howell and Willis 1989, Howell 1989)
2. Sociobiological view ignores structural factors that contribute to violence (Shepher-Hughes 1999)
3. Criticise sociobiological accounts of violence for playing up to racist and classist stereotypes (Bourgois 2002)