Humans may not be as hardwired for violence as we thought

A study comparing 100 primate species, including humans, suggests that everyday aggression and lethal violence did not evolve as part of the same simple behavioral spectrum. Species that frequently fight or show mild aggression are not necessarily more likely to kill rivals, while extreme acts such as infanticide and lethal attacks appear to follow their own evolutionary patterns. Humans may not be as hardwired for violence as we thought.

The findings suggest deadly attacks evolved through different mechanisms, challenging the idea that violence simply escalates from ordinary conflict. The findings suggest that everyday aggression does not necessarily build toward deadly conflict. Published in the international journal Evolution Letters, the study indicates that mild aggression and lethal violence may have developed through different evolutionary processes.

That distinction adds a new layer to the long-running debate over whether violence is an inherent part of human nature. The work was led by Professor Bonaventura Majolo of the University of Lincoln, alongside Dr. Aggression May Not Be a Single Trait Many theories about the origins of violence treat aggression as one broad behavioral characteristic.