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Human cruelty is rooted in the reinforcing effects of intraspecific aggression that subserves dominance motivation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 August 2006

Michael Potegal*
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, MMC 486, Minneapolis MN 55455

Abstract:

Intraspecific aggression (IA), in service to dominance, has far deeper roots in animal behavior and human evolution than does predation. The reinforcing properties of such aggression are most likely to be a major source of human cruelty.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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