A recent study, published in the journal Nature, found that humans “have inherited a propensity for violence.”

As reported by the Associated Press, the study took a look at phylogenetics, or the genetic closeness between species, to find out if humans could have inherited murderous tendencies. Results showed that the more closely related species are, the more similarly violent they are as well. And the level of violence a species has, in both humans and primates, depends on how violent their society is. So would chimpanzees wipe each other out if they could use guns? More than likely, the answer is yes, but only among their own close-knit groups.

But humans have become less violent throughout history, and that may be due to cultural, ecological or social factors.

So how could we inherit these murderous tendencies and what makes us different from primates that genetically resemble humans? Larry speaks to anthropology professor and reviewer of the study, Michael Wilson, to find out.

Guest: 

Michael Wilson, associate professor of anthropology, with a joint appointment in the department of ecology, evolution and behavior at the University of Minnesota; he reviewed the study, “The phylogenetic roots of human lethal violence” for the journal Nature.