Political psychologists Bernhard Leidner, Brian Lickel and Linda Tropp at the University of Massachusetts Amherst argue that war and violent conflict is not an inevitable component of human nature, having written a special new piece on "peace psychology" that urges people to overturn the widespread belief.
Published in the newest issue of American Psychologist, the authors argue that if social research psychology only focuses on how to "soften" violent conflict around the world and its negative consequences, "it would fall far short of its potential and value for society."