Why are we so violent?

WE live in an unpredictable society, a society that is changing all the time.
With these changes come problems and issues.
A vital part of understanding a social problem, and a precursor to preventing it, is an understanding of what causes it.
It is evident as reported in many of our daily journals and from posts and comments on Facebook that rape and other sex-related cases are on the rise.
The question we should ask is, what causes this?
Is it our cultural and social norms? Is it the modern lifestyle? Is it the advancement in modern technology? Is it the mobile phone or is it the internet and social media and their bad influences?
Cultural and social norms are highly influential in shaping individual behaviour, including the use of violence.
Norms can protect against violence, but they can also support and encourage the use of it.
For instance, cultural acceptance of violence, either as a normal method of resolving conflict or as a usual part of rearing a child, is a risk factor for all types of interpersonal violence.
It may also help explain why countries experiencing high levels of one type of violence also experience increased levels of other types. Social tolerance of violent behaviour is likely learned in childhood, through the use of corporal punishment or witnessing violence in the family, in the media, or in other settings.
In PNG, many legal cases on sex-related offences are being dismissed due to certain reasons; one is the customary ways of solving issues through compensation.
This weakens the justice system from taking its course against the offender for maximum penalties and behavioural change.
Another reason is to do with the religious aspect of forgiveness.
Forgiveness encourages offenders to move around freely in the society instead of facing the full brunt of the law for their wrongdoings.
The third reason, and a very important one, is the bad influences coming through the internet via smartphones that are causing behavioural changes contributing to social problems.

Concern Citizen, Cyril Kruak
Absent