Historical forces bring about historical trends and Pinker charts the increase in peace and the decline of violence in all aspects of society – all levels and all spheres. The web pages here cover the following social aspects:
urban-rural divide,
social class,
marriage,
feminisation,
religion,
media,
Urban-rural divide
The urban-rural divide relates to the first two historic trends noted by Pinker in Chapters 2 and 3 respectively: the Pacification Process (civilisations with cities and governments); and the Civilisation Process (centralised authorities and commercial infrastructure). Although Pinker places these two processes way back in history, the urban-rural divide is still evident today in many ways. The following papers reveal urban-rural geographical variation in gun culture in America; in Democrat-Republican votes; in party votes in Scotland; in UK newspaper readership; and in gender culture in India.
Gun culture in the USA
The Obama vote in 2012: the spatial network hierarchy
What can a loss of strength gradient look like? Competition over space and time for people’s opinions
Newspaper readership in the UK – the reality, not the stereotype
Gender culture in India
Social class
[This section needs further development but see sections 5 to 7 of ‘Newspaper readership in the UK – the reality, not the stereotype’
Marriage
Pinker charts the decline of violence in marriage (pp, 406-415). The following papers consider some ideas from marital therapy.
Is marital peace possible? – in memory of David Barkla
Relationship dynamics – a foundational mathematical approach
Feminisation
Feministion is one of Pinker’s historical forces (pp. 684-689). During August I was interested to note the gender differentiation in school subjects chosen. Girls were more likely to choose subjects which are more likely to produce ‘better angels’.
Table 2 percentage of girls sitting A-level exams for different subjects
% girls amongst those taking that subject
80+ performing & expressive arts;
70-79 sociology; psychology; communication; English
60-69 drama; religious studies; law
55+ critical thinking; media film TV studies;
50+ general studies; history;
40+ political studies; business studies; music;
30+ economics;
The Times (2013) A-level results. Results by subject. Friday August 16. p. 51
The following papers discuss feminisation in religion; gender violence; and gender differentiation.
Burt, G. (2012-2013) Social Modelling Notes:
The ordination of women bishops and the propositional calculus
Women, religion, culture and measurement
Gender culture in India
Drifting apart: the growing gender differentiation of cultural space
Religion
Pinker devotes considerable attention to religion, to the Hebrew Bible in particular which was written a few thousand years ago and which Pinker regards as ‘one long celebration of violence’ (p. 6). However religion has improved as these early ideas have been replaced by ‘more modern principles’ (p. 12). Some of this is evident from recent debates and is charted in the following papers:
The ordination of women bishops and the propositional calculus
‘Source of moral values’? ... or ‘one long celebration of violence’?
The Positive Speaking Quotient (PSQ): Sachs 63%; Moses 21%; Jesus 66%
What should we do in these difficult times? ‘Here is my recommendation ...’
Is religion a self-interested other-regarding happiness-seeking rational choice?
Women, religion, culture and measurement
Religion: a model of life ... an image of a positive society
Media
Pinker notes how the portrayal of violence in the media has declined over the past half century and more (pp. 25-26).
Newspaper readership in the UK – the reality, not the stereotype