Would you like to live in a world where we genetically alter ourselves to be less aggressive and violent?

Question

We all know that women are less aggressive and violent than men on the average(for instance, women commit murder at eight times less the rate than men in the U.S.). In addition, men who are incarcerated for violent crimes have higher levels of testosterone than other prisoners, indicating that this hormone may play a role in male violence. So, in theory, at least, we could genetically modify our men in the future to be less aggressive and violent, and maybe our women as well. Also, in a world run by women, would there be less violence and aggression, or would women simply replace men as the aggressors? Does society need aggressors in order to function well?

Answer 1

Perhaps we should be looking to engineer out instability rather than aggression? Genetic engineering could take care of biochemical instabilities but I think those only make the tip of the aggression iceberg. I think we could engineer or even "socially engineer" the need to express aggression in harmful ways right out of the population given enough time.

There are plenty of men with testosterone rushing through their bodies but the majority do nothing more than act out sexually because of it. Perhaps the answer lies in expressing testosteronic urges sexually rather than violently.

We live in a society where a disemboweled corpse is considered more appropriate viewing for a child than a naked breast. The concept behind this is twisted indeed. A breast is a beautiful, harmless, life-giving thing which should be cherished and accepted by society at large but violent death is not. Why try to genetically engineer away an aspect of society which is likely psychological in origin? It seems as logical as genetically engineering a man to put the toilet seat back down after urinating when you can just train him to do it simply and painlessly if you begin at an early enough age.

My personal theory about violence in men involves repressed sexuality. Why else would so many aggressors use their sex organs to express violence? Why else would so much of that aggression be focused specifically at women and in cases of extreme psychosis specifically at the sex organs and secondary sexual characteristics of women?

Boys are conditioned to play with violent toys and games instead of with soft, sweet dollies. Boys are discouraged from hugging and cuddling each other like girls do, taught that "it isn't manly" from a very young age. How on earth are they supposed to fit their love of their friends into this weird context? How are men supposed to learn to be soft with a woman when they've been trained against softness? Girls are allowed to kiss, hug, cuddle and snuggle with dollies and each other and grow into healthier sexuality and develop love feelings towards men and towards women.

Men in today's society are raised like puppies kicked and petted on alternate days. It's no wonder a few turn out to be mutts you ought not to turn your back to.

Women are raised to be soft. But we are still hard enough inside, believe me. If the use of violence holds a special and distasteful place in the mind of men and women chances are it won't be misused.

That said, I think that a biological "balancing" would be a good thing. Too much of anything is generally not good. Too much estrogen makes women teary and moody, too much testosterone makes men aggressive and angry. These hormones only influence the behaviours, they don't provide the seed from which the acts of violence spring. Though the excessive testosterone surely fertilizes the dormant seeds of violence planted in men.

Answer 2

Working with a fearful, nervous dog how do I know the dog will never become aggressive? I don't. There is NO way to know a dog's limits. But, I will not allow a nervous dog in my household to be pushed anywhere near the possible limit. I KNOW from behaviors and body language that certain 'reactions' may very well trigger a fear based aggressive behavior. What is the right environment for a nervous dog to strike out and bite and/or attack someone? An environment in which the dog is pushed physically and mentally to defend itself against abuse which would be challenging the animal to the point it has no escape except for bite or flee. If the animal cannot remove itself from the situation the only option to protect itself is to bite OR let the human beat it to death. How do you control environments that could lead to this? I control my dogs environment. There would never be a situation in MY home where any of my dogs would be forced to bite or flee. ADD: I respect the Greek's answer but we differ on this subject. "Differences" make for good communication and debate.

Answer 3

No I wouldn't want to live in that world, and if men because less aggressive women would be less attracted to us and then you have the problem with the world population dropping too low. lol.

Besides they are already trying to do that with drugs like adderall, ritalin etc. They are trying to drug it out of us guys.

Answer 4

I would like to live in a world where we genetically alter us to be a mixture of apples, crickets, crayons, gazelles, and toothpicks...

I think that would be really cool...oh, oh!! I would also like to fly and have magic powers where I could shoot purple lazers out of my left nipple. Can I have magic "Xanadu" roller skates genetically attached to my feet, too?

Answer 5

Ley us see... first we'll experiment on you... after careful study... we'll repeat with further studies, again on you. When we finally see that in you we have created the uberfraulein... we'll take you as a specimen to be exhibited throughout the world.

Then after extensive thought, Ms Mengele, we'll still answer "NO!"