The surprising decline in violence - Steven Pinker

The video discusses the decline of violence over time, challenging the common belief that modernity has increased violence. It presents evidence from various historical periods, showing a decrease in violence from hunter-gatherer societies to the present. The video explores reasons for misconceptions about violence trends and offers explanations for the decline, including the rise of centralized states, increased value of life, nonzero-sum games, and expanding empathy. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of understanding why violence has decreased and what has been done right to achieve this.

What common belief about modernity and violence does the speaker challenge?

• Modernity has decreased violence.

• Modernity has led to increased harmony.

• Modernity has increased violence.

• Modernity has no impact on violence.

What does the speaker use to illustrate the prevalence of violence in early civilizations?

• Biblical passages and archaeological findings

• Modern crime statistics

• Ancient myths and legends

• Contemporary news reports

What change in criminal punishment is highlighted as evidence of declining violence?

• Abolition of all forms of punishment

• Use of torture as a common punishment

• Introduction of fines for minor infractions

• Increase in public executions

What trend in interstate wars and violent crimes is observed since 1945?

• Fluctuating rates

• A steep decline

• No significant change

• A steep increase

What is one reason people might perceive the world as more violent than it is?

• Lack of historical data

• Cognitive illusions and media reporting

• Increased global peace

• Decline in crime rates

Which theory suggests that centralized states help reduce violence?

• Economic efficiency theory

• Empathy expansion theory

• Leviathan theory

• Nonzero-sum game theory

Which concept involves cooperation benefiting both parties in an interaction?

• Positive-sum game

• Zero-sum game

• Nonzero-sum game

• Negative-sum game

What does the 'expanding circle' theory propose?

• Empathy is a fixed trait.

• Empathy expands to include larger groups over time.

• Empathy decreases with technological advancement.

• Empathy is limited to family and friends.

What role does technology play in the decline of violence according to the speaker?

• It isolates people from each other.

• It increases the number of positive-sum games.

• It has no impact on violence.

• It leads to more conflicts.

What is a potential cause for the decline in violence mentioned in the talk?

• Decrease in global trade

• Rise of centralized states

• Increased isolation of communities

• Reduction in empathy