Affectional Bonding for the Prevention of Violent Behaviors: Neurobiological, Psychological and Religious/Spiritual Determinants (From Violent Behavior: Assessment and Intervention, V 1, P 95-124, 1990, Leonard J Hertzberg, Gene F Astrum, et al, eds. -- See NCJ-123057)

• NCJ Number: 123063
• Author(s): J W Prescott
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 30 pages
• Sale Source: PMA Publishing Corp
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The deprivation of physical affection in human relationships -- beginning in the parent-infant relationship and extending through the repression of female sexuality -- constitutes the single greatest source of physical violence in human societies.

Abstract

This conclusion is derived from animal studies and from cross-cultural studies of child rearing practices, human sexual relationships, patrilineal versus matrilineal cultures, and the roles of the high god in primitive cultures. The beginning of the failure to develop affectional bonds in human relationships is the parent-offspring relationship where sensory deprivation of the emotional affective senses (tactile, vestibular, olfactory sensory modalities) is permitted to occur. It is these sensory modalities that mediate somatosensory affectional pleasure experiences in the parent-offspring relationship. This impairs the ability to express physical affection through human sexual relationships. Affectional pleasure mutually shared in the male-female relationship inhibits physical violence and neutralizes power and authoritarianism in that relationship. Religious systems that give high moral value to pain, suffering, and deprivation while regarding physical pleasure as evil tend to nurture authoritarianism and violence. 97 references.