On Aggression. Konrad Lorenz.

On Aggression
Konrad Lorenz
New York: Bantam Books. 1966.

Why read it? Nonfiction. The author claims to have studied aggressive behavior in animals and to have drawn conclusions from their behavior that might help humans to control the aggressive instinct. Suggests that the aggressive instinct in humans be redirected toward the goals of art, science and medicine—beauty, truth and the alleviation of suffering. [Reminds me of King Arthur’s goal in T. H. White's The Once and Future King of channeling violence into a force to be used on behalf of achieving good.]

Sample Ideas from the Book: Man’s unique qualities have created a situation that can cause man’s extinction; they have also given him the means to control their misuse: rational responsibility. Knowing the origins of a disease is not the same as knowing which therapies to use to deal with it. Inductive science begins with individual cases that lead to generalizations; textbooks tend to begin with generalizations. Evolution is the change in the functions of organs which becomes hereditary.

Fish are more aggressive against their own species than against any other species. The color of coral fish, like bird-song, elicit aggression and defense of the territory. Darwin’s “struggle for existence” is the struggle among near relations, not separate species. Hereditary change is a gamble. The predators and their prey help to improve the performance of their hunting and defensive abilities. Readiness to fight occurs in home territory; the readiness to fight weakens as the animal moves away from its home territory. The winner will be the animal fighting in its home territory.

The aim of aggression in animals is never extermination of the species. Aggression is not diabolical; it is a life-preserving mechanism. The spontaneity of aggression makes it dangerous. Lack of social contact facilitates aggression. Redirecting aggression, moving it into harmless channels, is the best way to avoid it. If you are in a conflict situation, you will experience relief if you do a third neutral thing that has nothing to do with the conflict situation. Manners produce conciliation between members of a group. Communication can lead to channeling aggression into innocuous outlets or create a bond between two or more individuals. Friendship and aggression are interconnected.

Quote: “…laughter…tends to create a bond…. Shared laughter not only diverts aggression but also produces a feeling of social unity.”