Aggression and Violence Around the World: A New Look

There are large differences in aggression and violence within and between countries around the world, but why?

Professor Paul van Lange proposes a model of CLimate, Aggression, and Self-control in Humans (CLASH) that seeks to understand variation in aggression and violence in terms of differences in climate. Lower average temperature and larger variation in seasonal temperature influence individuals and groups to adopt a slower life strategy, a greater focus on the future (versus present), and a stronger focus on self-control.

The CLASH model further outlines that slower life strategy, future orientation, and self-control are important determinants of inhibiting aggression and violence.

Paul Van Lange is Professor of Social Psychology and Chair of the Department of Social and Organizational Psychology at the VU University at Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Distinguished Research Fellow at the University of Oxford.

Most of his research on human cooperation and trust is grounded in psychological and evolutionary theorizing of social interdependence, through which he seeks to understand the functions of forgiveness, generosity, empathy, fairness, morality, retaliation, competition, as well as general beliefs of human nature in various situations.

His work has been recognized several grants and awards, including the Kurt Lewin Medal by the European Association of Social Psychology. He has published around 150 articles, many of which have received considerable impact in not only psychology, but also in experimental economics, evolutionary (game) theory, and social neuroscience.

You can walk in around 19:45. The talk will start 20:00.