Why Are We So Obsessed with War?

The theories of why we love war.

Video Version

Think back to history class. Or don’t—you probably remember enough about humans constantly clobbering each other since the dawn of civilization. Fast-forward to today, and you’d think we’d have figured out that tribalistic (which, in many ways, is synonymous with populistic) thinking leads to war. Instead, we’re still witnessing power plays and territorial disputes, only now with nukes and a couple of social media battles thrown in.

This raises a reasonable question: why are we so obsessed with war? What’s the deal? Let’s unpack some of the theories and sprinkle in a little skepticism.

Evolutionary Theory: Blame It on the Genes

Evolutionary psychologists tell us that our DNA might just be the bad influence egging us on. The story goes like this: our “selfish genes” want us to stick around as long as possible to replicate, and one way to ensure this is to grab resources and defend them from others. So, if some other group wants our food, water, women, or land, guess what? They’re a threat to our genes, and we need to smash them before they smash us.

But then why do we still fight when we’ve got plenty of food and resources? When it’s not about survival, what’s the excuse? Also, if war is in our DNA, why do we see some groups that live in harmony?

Testosterone & Serotonin: Blame It on the Biochemistry

Most men have a higher dose of testosterone, which might turn them into the caveman archetypes we see on the Joe Rogan podcast, the Trump administration, and me during my workouts. Testosterone has been linked to aggression, so naturally, war becomes an extension of manly urges gone wild, right? And when serotonin (the “chill out” chemical) runs low, the aggression spikes even more.

But let’s give testosterone a break—it might make me hairy, horny, and hunky, but it’s not the magic key to why we wage organized, tactical war. Besides, the historical evidence doesn’t show ancient men throwing stones at each other all the time. In fact, for thousands of years, societies lived quite peacefully.

The Myth of Ancient Warfare

Despite what some textbooks suggest, not all early human societies were obsessed with violence. Anthropologists like Douglas Fry and Patrik Soderberg studied 21 modern hunter-gatherer groups and found very few deaths by group violence. Most conflicts were small-scale disputes, not full-blown tribal wars. The archaeologist R. Brian Ferguson also showed that warfare, as we know it, is barely 10,000 years old—a flash in human history.

The point? Big, organized wars aren’t exactly coded into us. They’re more like an acquired taste, like oysters, scotch, and the other luxuries politicians enjoy while they send young men to bomb innocent women and children.

Psychological Perks of War: Because Life’s Just Too Boring

Here’s a curveball: what if we go to war because it makes us feel good? The great psychologist William James explored this idea, suggesting that war has some addictive qualities. War shakes things up like group sex. It makes people feel alive and united, bringing them together against a common enemy.

James wrote that war helps people transcend the humdrum of everyday life—like a high-stakes game where the whole community gets a rush of purpose, honour, and courage. And as bizarre as it sounds, it offers individuals something to fight for, filling life with meaning (and probably a lot of adrenaline).

Historically, wars also fuel what James called “discipline.” In other words, everyone’s suddenly on their best behaviour, all chipping in to support the cause. The “war effort” unites everyone—from soldiers on the front lines to civilians rationing food. However, I experienced all this while volunteering in the devastating aftermath of DANA in Comunidad Valencia. Here, no matter one’s political or religious beliefs, people came to help. Well, aside from the politicians, of course. They’re too busy stirring up division. Which brings me to…

Nationalism, Group Identity, and the “Us vs. Them” Syndrome

Let’s not forget how much we love a good “us vs. them” narrative. SPORTS! Humans have a deep-seated need to belong to a group—it’s practically a survival mechanism. Unfortunately, this sense of belonging often mutates into nationalism, religious fervour, or plain old ethnic rivalry. When people latch onto a group identity, they often fall into a “we’re better than them” mindset. Think about it: Crusaders vs. Muslims, Catholics vs. Protestants, East vs. West, Drake vs. Kendrick, take your pick. Once that switch flips, people feel justified in treating “them” as enemies, stripping them of empathy and respect.

This is what psychologists call “moral exclusion.” Basically, we see the “other” as less human, making it easier to exploit or even annihilate them without a second thought. We draw the line around who’s “worthy” of rights, respect, and life itself, creating a moral free-for-all outside our group’s boundaries.

But Wait, Are We Actually Getting Less Violent?

Surprisingly, some scholars say violence is actually on the decline (until recently). In The Better Angels of Our Nature, Steven Pinker argues that, historically speaking, we’re in a remarkably peaceful era. Wars have been declining globally since World War II, and civil wars have dropped since the 1980s. Theories for why this is happening (or was happening) range from the nuclear deterrent (war has literally become too dangerous) to the rise of democracies, the role of international peacekeepers, and the fall of the Soviet Union.

Plus, in this increasingly globalized world, we’re mingling more. In some aspects, cross-cultural connections, international trade, and digital platforms help break down “us vs. them” boundaries, making it harder to otherize people. By interacting across borders, we’re (slowly) building empathy and broadening our “moral community” to include more of humanity. Which, by the way, I do in my English classes for global citizens.

The Role of Propaganda: Brainwashing, 101

When war is too crazy to make sense, propaganda comes to the rescue. Propaganda mobilizes people by bypassing rational thought and tugging at our biases. In the name of freedom, honour, or even “peace,” it pushes the right emotional buttons, making war look noble, urgent, and necessary. It’s all about packaging conflict as inevitable and righteous while playing to our deepest tribal instincts. No wonder propaganda still has a field day in modern times—it’s like a psychological hack into our collective consciousness.

So, Will We Ever Stop Fighting?

We’re living in an era of contradictions. On the one hand, violence is supposedly in decline. On the other hand, old habits die hard, and our tendency toward conflict lingers. Some say sports act as a “moral equivalent of war,” where people channel tribal impulses into harmless competition instead of violence. And maybe globalization and interconnection will keep pushing us toward cooperation.

Then again, who knows? We’ve still got leaders obsessed with power, group identities that breed division, and a media landscape that stokes the flames of “us vs. them.” Whether we’ll ever give up our love-hate relationship with war is anybody’s guess.

So, until then, maybe the best we can do is stay skeptical, avoid the propaganda traps, and cross our fingers that we’re finally learning from history’s mistakes—or at least trying not to repeat them.

---

Born Without Borders is a reader-supported guide to the craft of nonconformity, cultural psychology, travel writing and how to salir de las fronteras que impone tu mente. Both free and paid subscriptions are available. If you want to support my work and help me upgrade to more than one cabin bag, the best way is to take out a paid subscription or Buy Me a Coffee.

Paid subscribers also get access to the chat where people can ask me anything about cultural psychology, the countries I’ve visited, and how to salir de las fronteras que impone tu mente.