“The basic needs (for life, for safety and security, for belongingness and affection, for respect and self-respect, and for self-actualization), the basic human emotions and the basic human capacities are on their face either neutral, pre-moral or positively “good.” Destructiveness, sadism, cruelty, malice, etc., seem so far not intrinsic but rather they seem to be violent reactions against frustration of our intrinsic needs, emotions and capacities.”
Abraham Maslow, in Toward a Psychology of Being (‘happened to be reading it these days)
How do we create a world where people don’t have violent reactions against frustration? By focusing on eliminating said frustration.
The frustration comes down to: these people get that, and I don’t.
This is easy to solve: give enough to everyone so that everyone stays away from frustration.
Do I believe that a UBI system and sustainable, healthy housing would have avoided the Buffalo shooting? Yes, and countless, constant and invisible other violence would be eliminated too.
When intrinsic needs, emotions and capacities are met, hate doesn’t form, doesn’t blossom.
We supremely need that. And we can afford it, that’s without saying.