Human societies are based on shared values. Setting universal standards can cause a reaction to define particular communities, with revival of minority languages and religions and cultures. Suppress something and it will flourish underground. The more certain one group of people are of a particular line (in politics, religion or language) the more likely there is to be an extreme group to oppose it. The more aggressive a person is, the more prejudiced they are. Reducing frustration in a population should reduce prejudice. Behaviour groups can help reduce intolerance.
Hans Eysenck: Psychology (date not recorded in my notes)
Humans are not biologically equipped to live in populations far beyond tribal level. Cities offer compensations of stimulation and opportunity. The ideal city might be a compact, central area surrounded by separate, distinct living quarters and small towns with local industries.
An integrated, independent group with a common purpose diminishes its efficiency as its size increases beyond 20 to 25 people. Voluntary social groups (e.g. family and friends) tend to have up to 100 members. The optimum cohesive size is around 500 people (perhaps should be maximum size of a school, as headteacher can know all pupils). Japanese firms use work units of about 25.
Advertising recognises that some people want to get to the top of their own social group, while others want to get into the next higher group. Unemployment produces a sense of failure.
Biologically it is more effective for a species if its members simply threaten rather than kill or seriously injure each other. Childhood disputes and adult fist fights usually use the weak overarm blow, often after an extended period of threats and pushing. By designating another group as not fully human (e.g. training soldiers), the restraint against killing is weakened or even removed. Because sport is a win/lose siutation, there is a universal convention where the winner honours the defeated.
There is no strict physiological reason why a 1 year-old child should not be 6ft tall, but a human of that size with a toddler's intellectual and emotional development would be enormously dispruptive, hence the slow human growth process.
False ideology that humans are naturally selfish and aggressive. Children need years of cuddling, close attention, personal confidence and authority. While they have resilience and potential for recovery from parental deprivation and abuse, this can be insufficient resulting in them later developing neuroses or delinquency or aggression. Societies that seem to spoil children but also have serious respect for the needs and beliefs of young children tend to have relaxed, amiable and peaceful people.
Terence Dixon & Martin Lucas: The Human Race, Book Club Associates, 1982
