Childhood violence linked to war support

Study finds childhood violence linked to rigid masculinity and war support later in life.

Why it matters

  • Highlights psychological roots of war support.
  • Suggests societal attitudes shaped by childhood experiences contribute to conflict.

By the numbers

  • Over 1,000 UK respondents studied.
  • Childhood violence linked to authoritarian, sadistic, and rigid notions of masculinity.
  • Rigid masculinity is the strongest single factor behind war support.

The big picture

  • To prevent violence and war, address psychological roots.
  • Societal attitudes, not just leaders, drive support for war.

What they're saying

  • Comments suggest therapy should be normalized.
  • Violence begets violence in behavioral learning.

Caveats

  • Study is correlational, not causative.
  • UK sample may not represent other cultures.

What’s next

  • Further research on interventions to address childhood violence and masculinity notions.
  • Potential societal shifts towards healthier masculinity.