Comparative animal research has aimed to understand why evolutionarily humans have aggressive tendencies. Aggression varies in species based on the cost-benefit ratio of aggressive action as a competitive strategy. Studies have found that individuals exposed to stressful environments in early life adopt ‘life history strategies,’ meaning the way they allocate their time and energy, that lead them to be more aggressive and violent later on life.

“Us versus them” mentalities have the capacity to be very destructive in human social relations. Fortunately, though, people also have the ability to eschew group-based prejudices and focus on common goals and values. Instead of focusing on the differences between groups, it often makes more sense to emphasize commonalities and even establish larger, more inclusive groups.

The behaviors, emotions, and mental states associated with war and peace have distinct biological substrates. Through a greater understanding of the biological mechanisms that underlie human development and behavior—especially the peptides oxytocin and vasopressin—we can gain insight into the origins of positive sociality and discover methods of promoting peace by nurturing children from a young age.

If we want to promote peace across the world, we must begin at a young age. One might define peace in various ways, but there is widespread agreement that, fundamentally, peace—the absence of violence—is a desirable goal for humanity. A wide array of research now suggests that, due to various biopsychosocial mechanisms underpinning human growth and development, instilling a culture of peace in future generations is the best way forward. To achieve this end, the Early Childhood Peace Consortium seeks to make available the most pertinent information about early childhood development, successful programs and interventions, and peacebuilding.