I think you're assuming that fighting back is the only option. Yesterday, I saw my friend's two year old throw the toys of the five year old and the five year o

I think you're assuming that fighting back is the only option. Yesterday, I saw my friend's two year old throw the toys of the five year old and the five year old didn't immediately punch his younger brother, but instead he cried. By crying, both parents were alerted and immediately came to his aid, and frankly scolded the two year old for throwing the toys (indirect revenge?). Maybe you could argue that by crying, the older child was getting revenge on the younger because he knew his parents would come to scold him. Or maybe the kid just wanted comfort because he lost something he cared about. It was hard for me to know whether his intention was to receive comfort and attention or to have his parents shame his brother, maybe both? > Combine that with scarcity and a higher propensity for violence I guess I don't see this as a given as much as it seems you do. I suppose I think people act violently out of pain, most of us just lashing out at each other because we think they hurt us first, more cooperative by nature than competitive, but maybe I'm describing your views inaccurately.