A Primal Struggle for Dominance

Lower-ranking monkeys knew that if conflict arose, the higher-ranking monkeys would step in.

Such findings echo a theory outlined by the late Yale sociologist, Roger V. Gould, that status ambiguity increases the likelihood of conflict.

Conflict between peers was more likely to escalate into violence.

Status symmetry giving rise to conflict even occurs within families.

A son is far more likely to kill his father than his mother, while a daughter is more likely to kill her mother than her father.

Animal research yields parallel findings, suggesting that when two animals of the same species are similarly sized, conflict is more likely than when there is a size disparity.

Cohesion is key for military organizations, and absence of within-group conflict is crucial.

If one military has no internal conflict and another one does all things being equal, the one without internal conflict will win.

Equal claims to superior rank heighten the likelihood of conflict.

There is no straightforward way to adjudicate status conflicts between undergraduates and professors.

Many political activists do not view the status of police as legitimate, and status ambiguity has been introduced into the relations between civilians and the police, making the possibility of violence more likely.

https://www.city-journal.org/primal-struggle-for-dominance