The Psychology of Violent Behaviour

Psych in the City 2007
The Psychology of Violent Behaviour
Dr. Kevin Douglas
Psychologists, like many people in society, have long puzzled over violence. What causes it? How can we predict it? How can we reduce it?
Violence is a salient public health concern that affects hundreds of thousands of Canadians annually, and costs society enormously. Why do some people act in a chronic and persistently violent manner?
Psychological science has identified a number of risk factors for violent behaviour, as well as possible means by which to reduce the risk for violence.
Several topics being studied by SFU researchers are highlighted. For instance, the role of major mental illness (i.e., schizophrenia) is a controversial, yet potentially important, phenomenon to understand in terms of its relationship to violence.
Certain personality traits, such as psychopathic personality, also have implications for violence, as do procriminal attitudes, and alcohol and drug problems.
Certain background factors (parental criminality; abuse) and contextual considerations (neighbourhood characteristics; stability of housing) elevate the risk for violent behaviour.
Importantly, social scientific research has identified promising violence reduction strategies that have been demonstrated to reduce violent behaviour. The presentation will conclude with suggestions for how psychological science can contribute to the reduction of violent behaviour in society.

[@Mrimperfections777]

The dude hasn't smoked a drug in his life, nor wanted to cut his arms or many things...all the data on earth when being said by one amazing young man

[@slimmosimmo30]

Audience reacting like this is a stand up comedy. Clearly the majority haven’t experienced violence firsthand. Smh. Greetings from South America.

[@liveforlovexxx]

that is what is true

[@billhildebrand5053]

Qual pais ?

[@yourlocalzombiedied]

This settings is for learning, they're comfortable and the idea is to receive and interpret the information. They're already likely very familiar with this type of information and laughter is a way to increase the intensity of the moment while remaining focused. That's just my take on their response seeming off putting.

[@HagakureJunkie]

@@yourlocalzombiedied Uh, no they just find it funny. Not everyone is empathic.

[@Ezzaroonie]

Violence on any scale will inevitably draw reactions of "How can somebody do such a thing?!?!", or "What is wrong with people?!". I've come to realise that very few of the people who ask these questions actually want an answer. Rhetoric for the sake of social commentary is not conducive to actually finding answers to these very real questions. After all, we're all human. Whether you teach Sunday school to deaf kids, or bury them in your crawl space, the same central control system and data bank exists in both. So yes, I often ask the same questions when the behaviours of others don't align with my own logical sense of reasoning or moral compass, but there is no pretence of rhetoric in my questions - I am genuinely curious in knowing more about the human condition and how two brains, which in appearance are identical, can be universes apart. It's all so extraordinarily fascinating and I'm so excited to be living in an age where we are learning more and more about ourselves and our behaviours every day.

[@politicaltheoryexplained6249]

Erin Traynor Nice analysis. Agreed

[@theterrible101]

You deserve more recognition for this!

[@sophon238]

@Richard Davis true, we're very predictable

[@stickerhappy2291]

Same! That is why I am here.

[@einsteinzvice517]

Very informative and articulate delivery. TY. ;-)

[@vishnuvardhanbelide]

video describes psychology of violent behaviour and many other factors related to violence Certain personality traits, such as psychopathic personality, also have implications for violence, as do procriminal attitudes, and alcohol and drug problems,he also discusses about Violence in many forms is preventable. There is a strong relationship between levels of violence and modifiable factors such as concentrated poverty, income and gender inequality, the harmful use of alcohol, and the absence of safe, stable, and nurturing relationships between children and parents. Strategies addressing the underlying causes of violence can be effective in preventing violence

[@franciscanishagomes3944]

Sir, your explanation was very nice. You also said that not much research has been done on psychopathic behaviour improvement. Yes it is very difficult to do so because these people never actually feel that they are behaving in a really anti social way and so unknowingly they continue to be the same or even because worse. But I have been observing many such people and have seen that there is no improvement in their behaviour and they get worse than before as time goes when they get better facilities and will never accept any correction from anyone. I feel the only correction for them is forced punishment for them so that they become aware atleast that they have done wrong to others and others have suffered because of them otherwise they can create more disasters compared to their own past behaviour.This can be done only by social observations as they will not seek for any treatment on their own.

[@commonsenseneedtobepractic1861]

❤

[@peterdixon7673]

The graph at 23:00 lacks crucial information. The x axis should be labelled to indicate that low and high refer to the patient's score on the psychopathy rubric. Even more useful would be an actual score for comparison, and the name of the test in question, which would let a skeptic check the experiment for criticism or look it up out of curiosity.

[@MichaelStugart]

Alot of people talk about bad behaviors. You each who I mean are missing the point in some ways. Standing up for the best behaving individuals is more so what should occur because the best behaving individuals are more important than the worst behaving. With that being true facts we should be focusing on improving our best behaviors of the human race and supporting the people who do the amazingly correct behaviors. That's some of how we should be focusing such as creating amazingly correct behaviors and yes sometimes it's certainly a must to stand up for the best behaving individuals against the worst behaving individuals who unjustly hurt such important people. Yes I think it's certainly facts to say the truth is the best ways to improve the evolution of behaviors so that it can improve amazingly correct how I mean such as make decisions the best that we can and with the most accurate measurements that we can and that's some of why I love the truth to be in the decision making process and evaluating process and so on how I am referring about because I want the universe to improve and it will if we help it by behaving amazingly correct.

[@janeyann8316]

Violence does go with poverty, but psychopathy doesn't. He even casually admits that the numbers of cases of violence exactly correlate with the economy, you could probably plot them against the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Most psychopaths don't commit obvious violence, they just destroy people, their livelihoods, homes, relationships and childhoods. They lurk in respectable professions.

[@HagakureJunkie]

Not all psychopaths are violent. Psychopathy just means muted emotional scale. And not all psychopaths are created equal. Some psychopaths become cops, firefighters and military special operators where the ability to handle stress and remain detached to focus on the mission is a superpower. Please read "The wisdom of psychopaths" by Kevin Dutton before you make such uninformed claims.

[@epic6434]

​@@HagakureJunkieI agree psychopath sounds evil but many people are it's about manipulation for gain or knowledge like John D. Rockefeller talked about and people think he's evil for having manipulated the industry he was competing in gaining so much power but he practiced business and negotiating like when he proposed a cooperation deal with Vanderbilt if I remember correctly he explained his idea but asked for a gentleman's agreement before locking in with this option he forced the other man to prove himself. The refineries he bought out weren't gutted to start over from scratch he kept the people employed just changed the process and functions man was brilliant. Now there's Wolf of Wallstreet his mind detected in the movie was mischievous because he was made to believe what it takes to succeed from Matthew's character 😂 that was a hilarious part Jordan was shocked and had a sense of fear of being a criminal till he felt desperation then does something that impressed the losers he fell in with and became a master and commander that seemed good to those who were losers but his father telling him it's evil without trying to discourage him it was hard I'm sure for the man in reality when it was over.

[@JagoShogun]

Will to power: every living thing wants to exert and test it's own strength. Young men? A flow of emotions, hormones, and a man's natural predisposition to "lethal" psychological habits and solutions are why it's male on male violence. It can be over something petty, a girl, or boy things, such as "I can beat you up." Men are also more likely to commit self harm due to their lethality in psychology. So it's either the hospital if they hurt themselves, or jail if they kill someone else. Or both, all four. The best thing I've learned was restraint, but still, other men "scarred" me more than any woman has, not accounting heartbreak.

[@charlieangkor8649]

Every camera in the world is delusional - when filming in sufficiently low light condition, it records a snow or visual noise which actually doesn't exist. Every microphone is delusional - when recording in a quiet enough setting it records a hiss which doesn't exist.

[@cynthiasandyglover7223]

Good course I reckon He's a good speaker 😊

[@veronikaj1089]

It's so interesting. 👍

[@mr.anindyabanerjee9905]

Individual vs Family dynamics of violence could have been explored more deeply. Still, it's a wonderful presentation..!

[@Invisibility397]

As a Genetic Primary Psychopath I find it interesting when the audience laughs when he mentions Psychopaths. I have no concept of 28/271 emotions therefore I do not get the warning feeling that they provide such as Fear Guilt Shame Grief Remorse. On the of side certain other emotions are amplified to extremely intense levels. Just understand that there's a reason why Psychopathy is split into 2 different classes that are similar yet quite different.

[@JulixHartley]

He mentioned empathy training not being effective, but he didn't talk about the risk of psychopaths getting better at pretending to be empathetic! There have been findings of psychopaths getting worse (i.e. more powerful, just as evil) from it.

[@HagakureJunkie]

Please stop. As a psychopath, I am deeply offended by this. You have no idea what you're talking about. Psychopaths are absolutely necessary in society. Firemen, Police, Military Operators in high stress environments, all are excellent jobs that require being calm, cool and collected. Traits a psychopath has in spades. Very few psychopaths are evil. In fact there has never been a serial killer who was a psychopath, they all had other diagnoses.

[@JagoShogun]

spotted the troll@@HagakureJunkie

[@Omegaroth666]

Intriguing.

[@jahjahmagdaong2739]

Violence oftens comes from parents or family and other people don't even see that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@AWayOfLiving84]

Ask a psychologist how do you stop loving people? How do they know how much you love someone? That's why you would need many visits. And after that still maybe no help. Why?

[@michalepowell115]

The first fail in this so called research? You assumed all of the human's being studied were all guilty. You did not allow for human nature which is alot of people studied in the jail/prison ARE INNOCENT OF ANY CRIME. The judicial system is faulty in and of itself.

[@UrgeidoitNet]

awesome!

[@remifasolla2863]

Oh, Canada! I'm watching a conference about psychology and crime... And I 'm already bored after 3 minutes!

[@yes4673]

As a Canadian Hastings is actually kinda scary

[@user-cn4ko4ui1t]

This could be the reason some governments target individuals claiming for the safety of a country😮

[@klattalexis]

Some folks are tired of reporting crimes when nothing is done about it except for the Perpetrator getting even, when you turn him/her, causing the stats. being skewed..

[@9175rock]

🙄

[@kimyoung2748]

Another reason for increasing violence has very much a socioeconomic element.

[@alexanderzurba7680]

I go to certain bars in Toronto and also take the subway train and witness physical altercations such as bar fights street brawls and public disturbances like these in general, I believe violent people are both stupid,psychotic, angry and think hurting others physically is the answer.

[@klachenauer]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned what is staring you in the face ... that is one hot lecturer!

[@valve84]

The psychology of violent behavior in human capital

[@LongAwaitedBaby]

Have you read 'Under the Bridge' by Rebecca Godfrey? It is a true crime about a gang of white Canadians who beat up and murdered an Indian girl.

[@TheNickheart9]

What are the mental disorders of violence people?

[@prakiteshdeka9104]

If you're referring to general violence then probably it's more about that person's personality traits rather than a whole diagnosable mental disorder. But yeah disorders like for instance anxiety can trigger agitation and discomfort states eventually leading to violence. Now if you're referring to criminal violence, antisocial personality is very very common mostly among A-list criminals and also other disorders, for instance like narcissistic personality, substance and ones who suffer from paraphilic tendencies are more prone to exercise criminal acts.

[@alexanderzurba7680]

Angry psychopaths, that's the answer.

[@64Magick]

Watch Derren Brown, he's pretty good at manipulating-behaviorism!

[@belindaelisa5618]

The Peace Meditation Die Friedensmeditation. Old Lyran written as: Salome gam nan ben Urda - gan njber asala Hesporona! pronounced as: Saalome gam naan ben uurda gan njjber asaala hesporoona! English: Peace be on the Earth, and among all created creations! Deutsch: Friede sei auf der Erde, und unter allen Geschöpfen!

[@uberwolf1424]

more like «The Statistics of Violent Behaviour»

[@alexanderzurba7680]

There's absolutely no excuse for violence, such as fist fights or physical abuse.

[@alexanderzurba7680]

@Richard Davis true, but only use it when in imminent danger.

[@carsonchan5102]

People say no to violence until they are personally involved. Perhaps you folks won't want to get your hands dirty; but trust me, if your family became a victim of violence; you will most likely want some vengeance. Well, unless if you are a saint. Are you?

[@SammyxSweetheart.02]

19:30. 21:25

[@liveforlovexxx]

cos abuser threaten to kill your family if you go to the police, break the chain...

[@user-zu1ix3yq2w]

Lol... robbery is WAY too high on that list.

[@Mrimperfections777]

A politician

[@mrscalligraphy7458]

Brittle

[@detectivepikachu3161]

aboot

[@alanp741]

8:55 As a teenager I find this actually funny

[@celebrity_rooster7488]

There you have it. Violent people finish first. Take a look at Jordan Peterson before becoming judgmental.

[@jt_rooster3228]

Violent people finish first. Take a look at Jordan Peterson before becoming judgmental.

[@sonyonker]

How about we look into the psychology of people that put their hands up for questions when they’ve taken no time to think about what the hell their question is! And yes, I get the language barrier but it doesn’t excuse you for a rambling load of nonsense that took up all the question time. Inconsiderate.