Introduction to "Towards Understanding Conflicts, Aggression, Violence and Peace"

The International Colloquia on the Brain and Aggression offer the occasion for international scientific exchanges between multidisciplinary groups of experts on the phenomenon of violence. This conference in H?v?z, one of the most attractive spots in Europe, is the 36th of their international meetings already held all over the world since more than thirty years ago, and the third in Hungary (see: www.cicainternational.org). The main goal of the CICA is bridging biologically based approaches and those built on the social sciences, in the understanding that real solutions will only be found through the integration of insights reached from the interaction of many different fields and levels. Fruits of this tireless effort are the about thirty scientific books and monographs already published. This XXXVI CICA aims to study the phenomena of conflicts, aggression, violence and peace through a new, integrated, comprehensive, and interdisciplinary approach that considers both psycho-socio-cultural and biological factors, as a basis for a continuing fulfillment of our collective responsibility for "inventing peace." During the conference, about thirty participants from fifteen countries of four continents (Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Spain, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Mexico, United States of America, China, Hong Kong, Turkey, and South Africa), will also exchange scientific information on their latest research findings on the topic, which will hopefully also help to further elaborate new ideas and develop new collaborative, innovative and interdisciplinary research lines, so that the conference will be the starting point of significant collaborative research projects. We believe that the study of conflict, aggression and violence is currently one of the most relevant issues, especially if we consider the competitive life pattern in humans\u27 relationships which is now prevailing all over the world. Indeed, it appears that in this historical period there is no scientific problem that needs to be addressed with greater urgency, accuracy, and correctness than the study of violence in its various forms. The need for scientific data in support of peace, cooperation, and a positive resolution of conflicts has never been stronger