Can a focus on the importance of relationships help us address the pandemic of violence?

Abstract

This article cautions against the use of our psychological understanding to promote a particular political agenda and proposes three elements as a guide to the devel-opment of a new paradigm—the ideas emerging from complexity science; human emotions as a positive evolutionary advantage rather than an irrational flaw; and the significance of relationships between large groups rather than a rule-of-law approach based on individuals. This is a potentially radical agenda, but the author suggests that leaders may be well-advised to pursue an approach that takes more account of complexity, emotions, and relationships, as a necessary evolutionary path for the survival of our civilisation.