Are Humans Naturally Violent or Peaceful

Reading about political anthropology and political history in general, I know that there have been wars and violent conflicts throughout history, but I wanted to understand the causes behind these. During my research, I came upon the question: Are humans naturally violent or peaceful? I focused my research on this question to determine if the causes behind these wars are due to human tendencies.

The idea of humans going to war seems so common and natural, but I wonder if it really is. Although there are many human-built constraints that can give individuals a reason to fight, why was violence chosen over diplomacy and peace? Is that what was promoted by society, and if so, why?

I encountered four main arguments; One, human violence is an expression of the human condition. Due to physiological factors like testosterone, DNA, and neural wiring, it is natural for humans to express themselves through violence. Two, humans are peaceful but can become violent when cultural practices overwhelm human nature. Three, humans are prone to violence, especially when culturally provoked, but they are still capable of avoiding it. And four, humans are prone to be peaceful but can become violent when culturally provoked. These are the main potential reasons that explain the nature of humans.

Another concept I came across while exploring anthropology literature was militarization. Militarization is essentially a social process where civil society organizes for military violence. It is where civil society promotes and glorifies war to shape their national history, political culture, and patriotism. It promotes censorship, threatens cultural institutions, and frames human interactions as if they can only be understood through the logic of warfare and violence. This process promotes ideas such as: defense is the first priority and need in any tense situation, humans are and should be naturally aggressive, force is the most effective way to achieve goals, and weapons are necessary to create security and a safe space.