Channeling aggression.


We humans have a tendency towards aggression towards our surroundings, including ourselves.
In order to preserve cohesion with a group, that aggression needs to be directed outwards towards individuals or other groups.
In a relatively civilized society there are many tensions as we are all aware of at this time and lockdowns, especially of competitive team sports, removes a great release valve for aggressive instincts.
Meanwhile a new tool for being aggressive against fellow humans has emerged: The internet and social media. "Pleasantries" can be exchanged without consequences to oneself from a keyboard.
The Romans had their internal problems too and found it convenient to construct an arena for the entertainment of the citizenry:
"Located just east of the Roman Forum, the massive stone amphitheater known as the Colosseum was commissioned around A.D. 70-72 by Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty as a gift to the Roman people. In A.D. 80, Vespasian’s son Titus opened the Colosseum–officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater–with 100 days of games, including gladiatorial combats and wild animal fights."
One form of entertainment involved letting starving wild beasts devour Christians to the cheer of spectators.
In George Orwell's novel "1984" the state organized regular public hate sessions against some perceived enemy, so people could vent their frustrations.
The ultimate channelling of aggression happens when nations go to war. This was tried by the Argentinian political junta when they started the Falklands War in 1982 against Britain in order to direct frustration and anger away from themselves towards Britain.
They lost the war over a 10 week period, with 649 dead to show for it.

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