THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE HAS APPEARED IN THE RECORD ON July 2, 2003

Why so many adults resort to physical violence, Part I

Not a day goes by that we don't see or hear of adults trying to resolve their differences through physical violence. Just recently a man in his 50's approached me and tried in vain to goad me into a fight. Anger and frustration seeped from his body language .The more I declined his offer; the more he repeated I was a coward.

Putting aside how ridiculous it would have appeared to see two grown and supposedly mature men trading blows in the public, especially when one of them happens to be a 59- year old retired crown attorney, the incident raises a fundamental question. Why do so many adults try to resolve their differences through physical violence?

Having prosecuted countless individuals from simple assault to Ist degree murder it is a subject that has always intrigued me. However, rather than expound on my own theories I decided to begin by inviting individuals with varying professional backgrounds to express their personal opinions in my column. They graciously and diligently accepted my offer thanks to the wonders of e-mail. Due to the number of contributors I also decided to proceed with a 2-part series. Without further ado I present you their unabridged opinions:

                                    La Presse literary columnist and author

                                                  Pierre Vennat

"I am not a psychologist. But the explanation I see is maybe in the fact that that we live in a world where man is more and more powerless to change the world vis-à-vis governments, multinational corporations, his employer and sometimes his spouse (one only has to think of the many divorces) and therefore, physical force remains the only way to prove the little power he still has (or to create the impression that he is strong)

The other explanation (I'm thinking of road rage) is that we live such stressful lives that we no longer tolerate the slightest contradiction. That

is why , if you cut off a guy in his car and delay him for a minute, he screams names at you and follows you , bumper to bumper, etc.

They say a lot of people who are frustrated in their private or professional lives like to buy fast cars (Camaro type) or big 4X4s just to get the feeling of power behind the steering wheel. In short, it is my opinion that those who resort to physical violence do so because it is the only way they can try and prove that they are the strongest. "

     Social worker for Les Centres Jeunesse de la Montérégie

                                             Maureen Murphy

"Having worked for 10 years as a parole officer in a penitentiary followed by fifteen years as a youth protection worker intervening with young offenders as well as with families where violence is an issue, I have come to understand that those who attempt to resolve issues through violent means are often persons who are seeking control over situations for which they feel helpless and inadequate as they often lack the necessary social or communication skills to deal with the situation. The transmission of these skills is normally part of a child's education within functional families.

This may explain why violent tendencies are often transmitted from generation to generation in dysfunctional families, the exception being persons with personality disorders or mental health issues. For this reason we are putting more emphasis on anger management programs and conflict resolution training for youth who are involved with or who are victims of violent situations in hopes of breaking this cycle. "

Former Headmaster of Selwyn House and Appleby  College,

                                           Alexis Troubetzkoy

"In my view, people resort to physical violence for any one of the following reasons or combination thereof: a) an inability to articulate disappointment, frustration and above all, anger; b) an inability to cope with unreasonable outside pressures bearing on an individual, perhaps having little to do with the person being subjected to the violence; c) a genetic make up in which adrenaline runs rampant, precipitating uncontrolled anger; d) a masochistic pleasure in physically hurting someone, especially a person cared for ;e) a repressed desire to command or control; f) immaturity of character, where reason hasn't fully kicked in ;g) in some cases, a repressed sexual dysfunction or fantasy.

No doubt, there are other reasons. I write from the perspective of a teacher, one who spent years working in independent boys' boarding schools."

       Former management consultant and business executive

                                             Ralph Maddock

"It is my view that the phenomenon of increasing interpersonal violence is the inevitable result of escalating changes in society and mores which are affecting people's lives in ways which they do not understand fully, and feel increasingly powerless to deal with. The "politically correct" movement too has caused a shift in expected behavior, which contrasts with what one was taught in early life. The use of this phenomenon by states to introduce thought crimes such as "xenophobia" and "right-wing extremism” enables those states to exercise even more control and only adds to this shattering of earlier beliefs, giving rise to intense feelings of vulnerability. Since the state is well armed, frustrations are more likely to be reconciled by attacks upon those less able to respond with deadly force. Thus, "road", "air" and "sports" rage. With the media celebrating violence daily on our TV and cinema screens should we be surprised? "

 
                   Protestant Minister and corporate consultant

                                     Peter von Keyserling

" Why a violent reaction? The root is most likely a high frustration level with life, even among those who are well educated. When the frustration is coupled with a diet of violence in the media, (news, programming, etc.), fear for personal security (see all the home and consumer security systems available), distrust of the police and lawyers (actually seeking justice and the truth), and the firm belief that enough money will cure any problem, the individual has no patience to work out a solution peacefully. Physical power has always been the male's ultimate solution to disagreements.

When we cannot depend on justice, a majority honored value set, and the innate goodness of most people, the best solution is to kill the opposition.

Dead people don't fight back nor seek revenge. So the question is, "Can I get away with killing my opposition?" If not, how much can I do and survive.

One can work that all the way back to a fist fight where one wins, loses, or it is a draw. The outcome is hard to dispute and we still attach value to beating up the other person in terms of winning. This is very important when nothing else seems to be working.

If we are focused on serving Jesus Christ and feel an agape love for people, and are satisfied with God's promises, we have neither an interest in fighting, nor the time to engage in such unproductive activity. "

Next Week: Part 11: More opinions