Maslow would probably identify the roots of violence relative to his pyramid of needs -- starving or physically threatened people feel desperate and that desperation leads to extreme acts. But -- interestingly enough -- the same sort of desperation can come from feeling similarly thwarted or threatened on other needs, such as safety of an emotional sort, or perhaps even self-fulfillment. I can't say I know of any acts of physical violence caused by thwarted self-fulfillment, to be honest, but it is an amusing concept. Well, maybe there's a hierarchy of kinds of violence, too -- physical, emotional, and cognitive? 'Cuz I'm sure I have seen extreme cognitive violence being perpetrated by people whose chances for self-fulfillment are slim to none.

Just speculatin', you understand...


A