As I shared in a previous post, while working along the Narmada River, I experienced only kindness, generosity and friendliness from the people of the river. It's been a few weeks since I came back from that experience, and seeing how violent, cruel and bullish human beings can be, I wonder if it was all just a dream.
Yet, I know it was not.
So, who are we? What is the true nature of human beings?
Are we these monsters, constantly competing with the only aim to prevail over others no matter what, or are we friendly and kind beings willing to help each other?
In Humankind: A Hopeful History, Rutger Bregman writes that the idea that, by very nature, humans are selfish, aggressive and quick to panic is just a persistent myth. He poised that the success in the evolution of humankind is because we are among the friendlier species on the planet.
So, how come there's so much violence?
Many studies have shown that animals in captivity can be more aggressive and violent than their wild counterparts. Studies identified many factors that contribute to this rise in aggressiveness, the most important being stress, frustration and learned behaviour. For example, a study of captive elephants found that they were more likely to be aggressive towards humans if they had been previously punished for aggression.
Reflecting on my experience along the Narmada, I felt like life was simpler there. I felt there were fewer rules and human constructs, and people's lives seemed more attuned to nature.
So, maybe this rise in violence and aggression is because we live in a sort of captivity. One made of often invisible cages and chains.
I feel like I opened a Pandora's box, and I'd love to write more about it. In particular, I'm fascinated by the studies of Erving Goffman on Total Institutions.
But time is up. Let's see if I can add something later in the comments.