Douglas P. Fry
Encyclopedia
Douglas P. Fry is a docent and professor of anthropology
, teacher in the Faculty of Social and Caring Sciences at Åbo Akademi University in Finland
and adjunct research scientist in the Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology at the University of Arizona
.
A renowned American
anthropologist and a leading authority on aggression
, conflict
and conflict resolution
, has worked in this field for over twenty-five years and has published many articles and books on this subject. His main fieldwork areas are: Mexico
, where he conducted research on socialization
of aggression and conflict resolution styles in two neighbouring communities of Zapotecs, and Finland
, where he conducted a study on Finnish culture and society in general and conflict resolution styles within families in particular. Fry's ongoing project concerns patterns of conflict resolution and reconciliation mechanisms across 186 societies represented in the Standard Cross-Cultural Sample
(SCCS). The study aims to produce new knowledge on conflict management and reconciliation which would boost and stimulate prevention of violence
and intergroup conflict. Fry teaches at the Åbo Akademi University in Vasa within the educational specialization Aggression, Conflict Resolution, and Peacemaking.
bands from around the world, Fry debunks the idea that war and conflict is ancient and inevitable and that there is an inborn instinct of aggression
in humans.
Fry shows that, far from being natural, warfare actually appeared quite recently along with changes in social organization and especially the rise of states. Strong anthropological finding, which has been replicated over different studies, is that there is a correlation between increasing social complexity and the likelihood of war. What this means is the simplest type of society, nomadic hunter gatherer bands, tend to be relatively unwarlike and as social complexity increases into kingdoms and chiefdoms, the chance of warfare definitely increases. Fry’s definition of war
and his argument that war is a relatively recent phenomenon has been adopted by other academics studying war and conflict resolution, for example ethologist Judith Hand
and sociologist Sinisa Malesevic
.
Fry also points out that although war is present in our times, the vast majority of us live peaceful, nonviolent lives. We are therefore not as warlike as it might seem and if we learn from our ancestors, we may be able to move beyond war and provide real justice and security for the people of the world,,,,,.
Edited Journal Issues:
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
, teacher in the Faculty of Social and Caring Sciences at Åbo Akademi University in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and adjunct research scientist in the Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
.
A renowned American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
anthropologist and a leading authority on aggression
Aggression
In psychology, as well as other social and behavioral sciences, aggression refers to behavior between members of the same species that is intended to cause humiliation, pain, or harm. Ferguson and Beaver defined aggressive behavior as "Behavior which is intended to increase the social dominance of...
, conflict
Group conflict
Group conflict, or hostilities between different groups, is a pervasive feature common to all levels of social organization .. Although group conflict is one of the most complex phenomena studied by social scientists, the history of the human race evidences a series of group-level conflicts that...
and conflict resolution
Conflict resolution
Conflict resolution is conceptualized as the methods and processes involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of some social conflict. Often, committed group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest...
, has worked in this field for over twenty-five years and has published many articles and books on this subject. His main fieldwork areas are: Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, where he conducted research on socialization
Socialization
Socialization is a term used by sociologists, social psychologists, anthropologists, political scientists and educationalists to refer to the process of inheriting and disseminating norms, customs and ideologies...
of aggression and conflict resolution styles in two neighbouring communities of Zapotecs, and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, where he conducted a study on Finnish culture and society in general and conflict resolution styles within families in particular. Fry's ongoing project concerns patterns of conflict resolution and reconciliation mechanisms across 186 societies represented in the Standard Cross-Cultural Sample
Standard cross-cultural sample
The standard cross-cultural sample is a sample of 186 cultures, used by scholars engaged in cross-cultural studies.-Origin:Cross-cultural research entails a particular statistical problem, known as Galton's problem: tests of functional relationships can be confounded because the...
(SCCS). The study aims to produce new knowledge on conflict management and reconciliation which would boost and stimulate prevention of violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
and intergroup conflict. Fry teaches at the Åbo Akademi University in Vasa within the educational specialization Aggression, Conflict Resolution, and Peacemaking.
Key Ideas
Drawing on archeology and fieldwork on hunter-gathererHunter-gatherer
A hunter-gatherer or forage society is one in which most or all food is obtained from wild plants and animals, in contrast to agricultural societies which rely mainly on domesticated species. Hunting and gathering was the ancestral subsistence mode of Homo, and all modern humans were...
bands from around the world, Fry debunks the idea that war and conflict is ancient and inevitable and that there is an inborn instinct of aggression
Aggression
In psychology, as well as other social and behavioral sciences, aggression refers to behavior between members of the same species that is intended to cause humiliation, pain, or harm. Ferguson and Beaver defined aggressive behavior as "Behavior which is intended to increase the social dominance of...
in humans.
Fry shows that, far from being natural, warfare actually appeared quite recently along with changes in social organization and especially the rise of states. Strong anthropological finding, which has been replicated over different studies, is that there is a correlation between increasing social complexity and the likelihood of war. What this means is the simplest type of society, nomadic hunter gatherer bands, tend to be relatively unwarlike and as social complexity increases into kingdoms and chiefdoms, the chance of warfare definitely increases. Fry’s definition of war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
and his argument that war is a relatively recent phenomenon has been adopted by other academics studying war and conflict resolution, for example ethologist Judith Hand
Judith Hand
Judith L. Hand is an evolutionary biologist, animal behaviorist , novelist, and pioneer in the emerging field of peace ethology. She writes on a variety of topics related to ethology, including the biological and evolutionary roots of war, gender differences in conflict resolution, empowering...
and sociologist Sinisa Malesevic
Sinisa Malesevic
Dr. Siniša Malešević, MRIA is a Professor of Sociology and the Head of School of Sociology at the University College, Dublin, Ireland. His research interests include the comparative-historical and theoretical study of ethnicity, nationalism, ideology, war, violence and sociological theory...
.
Fry also points out that although war is present in our times, the vast majority of us live peaceful, nonviolent lives. We are therefore not as warlike as it might seem and if we learn from our ancestors, we may be able to move beyond war and provide real justice and security for the people of the world,,,,,.
Main Publications
Books:- Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace, and Conflict, Volumes 1-3, second edition, Kurtz, Lester (Editor-in-Chief), A. McAlister, A. Petit, A. Coker, B. Chasin, D. Ritter, D. Fry, J. Oberg, J. Backwell, L. Lorentzen, M. Okamoto, & R. Elias (Associate Eds.), New York: Elsevier/Academic Press, 2008, ISBN 0123695031
- Beyond War, Douglas P. Fry, Oxford University Press, New York, 2007, ISBN 0195309480
- Lessons for the Rest of Us: Learning from Peaceful Societies, Bonta, Bruce D and Douglas P. Fry, 2006, in The Psychology of Resolving Global Conflicts, from War to Peace, Volume 1: Nature vs. Nurture, Mari FitzduffMari FitzduffMari Christine Fitzduff is an Irish-born activist, educator, writer and academic.She is currently Professor and Director of the MA Conflict and Coexistence Programme at Brandeis University, Massachusetts, USA, which began in 2004....
and Chris E. Stout (Eds.), 175-210, ISBN 0275982017 - The Human Potential for Peace, Douglas P. Fry, Oxford University Press, 2005, ISBN 0195181786
- Keeping the Peace: Conflict Resolution and Peaceful Societies around the World., Kemp, Graham & Douglas P. Fry (Eds.), New York: Routledge, 2004, ISBN 0415947618
- Cultural variation in conflict resolution: Alternatives to violence, Douglas P. Fry, & Kaj Björkqvist (Eds.), 1997, New York: Lawrence Erlbaum, ISBN 0805822224
Edited Journal Issues:
- Anthropological Perspectives on Aggression, Douglas P. Fry, Guest Editor, Aggressive Behavior, Vol. 24, No. 2.1998
- On Aggression in Women and Girls: Cross-Cultural Perspectives, Fry, Douglas P. & Ayala Gabriel, Guest Editors, Sex Roles, Vol. 30, Nos. 3 & 4, 1994
Membership in Professional Associations
- American Anthropological AssociationAmerican Anthropological AssociationThe American Anthropological Association is a professional organization of scholars and practitioners in the field of anthropology. With 11,000 members, the Arlington, Virginia based association includes archaeologists, cultural anthropologists, biological anthropologists, linguistic...
- International Society for Research on Aggression
- The Society of the Sigma XiSigma XiSigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society is a non-profit honor society which was founded in 1886 at Cornell University by a junior faculty member and a handful of graduate students. Members elect others on the basis of their research achievements or potential...
, Scientific Research Association - Peace and Justice Studies AssociationPeace and Justice Studies AssociationThe Peace and Justice Studies Association is a non-profit organization headquartered at Prescott College and based in Prescott, Arizona; its current Executive Director is Randall Amster. It was formed in 2001 as a result of a merger of the Consortium on Peace Research, Education and Development ...
Editorial Boards
- Journal of Aggression, Conflict, and Peace Research (on-going).
- Aggressive Behavior, Official Journal of the International Society for Research on Aggression (on-going).
- Internet site: www.peacefulsocieties.org (on-going).
- Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender: Men and Women in the World’s Cultures (Kluwer Academic) Advisory Board, 2004.
- Social Justice: Anthropology, Peace and Human Rights, 1999-2004.
External links
- homepage: http://www.abo.fi/student/en/Content/Document/document/19492
- http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Nonkilling_Anthropology
- http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704471504574449012560741086.html?hat_input=ardi+casts+doubt#video%3DB3805F94-00F6-4B3F-B71A-DCB3CEF4D785%26articleTabs%3Darticle