Dr. Gary Slutkin argues that violence isn't just a metaphor for a health crisis. As he argues in his book, The End of Violence, it’s actually a contagious disease that can replicate through neural pathways and social interactions.
“It’s a disease by its definition ... an entity [that] causes or can cause disability and death—what we call in health morbidity and mortality,” he told Sam Osterhout.
And like many diseases, violence can be contagious, Slutkin added.
“It’s contagious because it causes more of itself. People who are exposed to violence a lot are more likely to do it, like people who are exposed to flu a lot."
So what’s the best way for us to cure this disease? Slutkin talks about that and much more. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation.
