I guess I ought to read Our Tragic Flaw by Parke Burgess.
Looking deeply into these questions, Our Tragic Flaw locates the root cause of our collective perversity in the “logic of violence.” Embedded in our biology, psychology, and culture, this logic is the tragic flaw that threatens humankind. But author Parke Burgess does not accept that this flaw inevitably dooms us to self-destruction. Another way is possible, now as never before. The logic of violence can, in fact, be transcended through a conscious and intentional process of deepening self-awareness, and a corresponding process of sharing power and increasing collaboration in our social relations.
I don’t know whether I agree with the premise that there’s this deep psychological cause, but I agree with the idea that eliminating violence is desirable.