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Demonic Males: Apes and the Origins of Human Violence
Product Description "Remarkable and utterly fascinating" (Jane Goodall), author Dale Peterson and Harvard University biological anthropology professor Richard Wrangham's Demonic Apes and the Origins of Human Violence is a groundbreaking study on human violence.
Whatever their virtues, men are more violent than women. Why do men kill, rape, and wage war, and what can we do about it?
Based on human evolution studies and about our closest living relatives, the great apes, Demonic Males presents a compelling argument that the secrets of a peaceful society may well be, first, a sharing of power between males and females, and second, a high level and variety of sexual activity, both homosexual and heterosexual.
Dramatic, vivid, and sometimes shocking, but firmly grounded in meticulous scientific research, Demonic Males will stir controversy and debate. It will be required reading for anyone concerned about the spiral of violence undermining human society. Review "The heroes of this fascinating account of primate behavior and evolution are bonobos, members of a species closely related to both humans and chimpanzees but distinguished by its comparatively nonviolent and relatively egalitarian social structure. Wrangham and Peterson look to studies of bonobo social organization and behavior for insight into social mechanisms to control human violence. The influence of sociobiology is evident at every step in the authors' (which the authors dub "Galton's error"). The book is an accessible, gripping, sometimes surprising account of the depth and extent of violent behavior among primates as well as a provocative discussion of its origins and possible remedies." Booklist, ALA —
Whatever their virtues, men are more violent than women. Why do men kill, rape, and wage war, and what can we do about it?
Based on human evolution studies and about our closest living relatives, the great apes, Demonic Males presents a compelling argument that the secrets of a peaceful society may well be, first, a sharing of power between males and females, and second, a high level and variety of sexual activity, both homosexual and heterosexual.
Dramatic, vivid, and sometimes shocking, but firmly grounded in meticulous scientific research, Demonic Males will stir controversy and debate. It will be required reading for anyone concerned about the spiral of violence undermining human society. Review "The heroes of this fascinating account of primate behavior and evolution are bonobos, members of a species closely related to both humans and chimpanzees but distinguished by its comparatively nonviolent and relatively egalitarian social structure. Wrangham and Peterson look to studies of bonobo social organization and behavior for insight into social mechanisms to control human violence. The influence of sociobiology is evident at every step in the authors' (which the authors dub "Galton's error"). The book is an accessible, gripping, sometimes surprising account of the depth and extent of violent behavior among primates as well as a provocative discussion of its origins and possible remedies." Booklist, ALA —
864 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 10, 2023
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September 5, 2023
I was introduced to this fascinating book by a wonderful friend. It was hard to put down! The central premise was that human violence owes a lot to human evolution, and humans and chimpanzees are very similar in their cultures of violence, particularly male violence. The authors do an excellent job explaining why and how humans developed in comparison to chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and bonobos. It got quite grim in places - violence doesn’t make for pleasant reading - but it was utterly compelling. It was uncanny how similar humans and chimpanzees are. But it doesn’t have to be that way! The chapter on bonobos was the best, and gave grounds for optimism over male human violence, as humans are also closely related to bonobos.
Some of the quotes that I noted as particularly interesting, mostly about bonobos:
“The problem is that males are demonic at unconscious and irrational levels. … Winning has become an end in itself.” (p.199)
P.207: “So the Wamba data suggest that female power is the secret to male gentleness among bonobos.” (p.207)
P.208: “Cooperation among the females kept the male in his place.”
P.214. “But since female bonobos are able to control males, their sexual attractiveness is not a liability but a strength.” (p.214)
P.221: “And the reduction in male-against-male violence flows from the males’ inability to monopolize females…” (p.221)
P.233: “…we are part of a group within apes where the males hold sway by combining into powerful, unpredictable, status-driven and manipulative coalitions, operating in persistent rivalry with other such coalitions.” (p.233)
P.233: “…our own intercommunity conflicts might be less terrible if they were conducted on behalf of women’s rather than men’s interests.” (p.233)
“Primate communities organized around male interests naturally tend to follow male strategies and, thanks to sexual selection, tend to seek power with an almost unbounded enthusiasm. In a nutshell: Patriotism breeds aggression.” (p.233)
In conclusion they note that female power is not an inverted image of male power, but something different entirely.
Some of the quotes that I noted as particularly interesting, mostly about bonobos:
“The problem is that males are demonic at unconscious and irrational levels. … Winning has become an end in itself.” (p.199)
P.207: “So the Wamba data suggest that female power is the secret to male gentleness among bonobos.” (p.207)
P.208: “Cooperation among the females kept the male in his place.”
P.214. “But since female bonobos are able to control males, their sexual attractiveness is not a liability but a strength.” (p.214)
P.221: “And the reduction in male-against-male violence flows from the males’ inability to monopolize females…” (p.221)
P.233: “…we are part of a group within apes where the males hold sway by combining into powerful, unpredictable, status-driven and manipulative coalitions, operating in persistent rivalry with other such coalitions.” (p.233)
P.233: “…our own intercommunity conflicts might be less terrible if they were conducted on behalf of women’s rather than men’s interests.” (p.233)
“Primate communities organized around male interests naturally tend to follow male strategies and, thanks to sexual selection, tend to seek power with an almost unbounded enthusiasm. In a nutshell: Patriotism breeds aggression.” (p.233)
In conclusion they note that female power is not an inverted image of male power, but something different entirely.
Displaying 1 of 1 review