What is Decline of Violence?

Decline of Violence is a mental model used for better thinking and decision-making.

How do you apply Decline of Violence?

To apply Decline of Violence, identify situations where this framework is relevant, then use it as a lens to evaluate your options and decisions. The model is most useful when combined with other complementary mental models.

What category does Decline of Violence fall under?

Decline of Violence falls under the Philosophy, Law & Politics category of mental models. Other models in this category can be found on the Philosophy, Law & Politics hub page.

Why is Decline of Violence important?

Decline of Violence is important because it provides a structured way to think about problems that would otherwise be approached with intuition alone. Understanding this model helps you avoid common reasoning errors and make better decisions.

Where does Decline of Violence come from?

Decline of Violence is discussed in the tradition of Steven Pinker.

Philosophy, Law & Politics

Decline of Violence

Model #0857Category: Philosophy, Law & PoliticsSource: Steven PinkerDepth to apply:

5 min read

Contents

1. Core Idea
2. How to See It
3. How to Use It
4. Founders & Leaders
5. Connected Models
6. One Key Quote
7. Summary & Further Reading

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Section 1

Core Idea

Despite the constant drumbeat of alarming headlines, violence has declined dramatically over centuries and millennia — in every measurable form. Homicide rates, deaths in warfare, torture, slavery, and domestic violence have all fallen as a proportion of population. Steven Pinker's thesis attributes this to several converging forces: the rise of the state monopoly on force, the expansion of commerce and trade, the spread of literacy and cosmopolitanism, the empowerment of reason, and the broadening circle of empathy. The decline is not an accident or an illusion — it's a measurable trend supported by extensive data. The model matters because our perception of violence is distorted by media availability bias, making the present seem more dangerous than the past when the opposite is true.