Dissertation Abstract

[Tyburn]

As this came up in another thread. I thought I'd give you the abstract and contents for it.

Acts Of Aggression

Professional Wrestling, Cinematic Horror and The Violence Seeking Impulse

What Motivates people to enjoy watching and participating in dangerous sports and activites?

This paper presents arguments for the existance of a psychological mechanism self-labelled The Violence Seeking Impulse (VSI) The paper begins by exploring the psychological basis of motivation, to uncover evidence for the existance of the VSI as a motivational force in human behaviour.

The paper uncovers arguments that the VSI is an offshoot of an ancient primary drive that once allowed humans to hunt and protect themselves. The paper displays the hypothesis that the expression of the VSI still exists today but is curbed by morality and gives historic examples of this.

It moves on to examine how the VSI is gratified in the modern age. Professional Wrestling is used as the prime example through the document to show how symbolic violence and the ways in which we understand this may act as an escapist cathartic vent. The paper explores theories surrounding the display of dominance and submission (Foucault) power (Nietzsche) humiliation, and what effect this has on masculinity as protrayed in Pro-Wrestling (Bathes) Continuing through the symbolism of the cinematic horror genre. The question is asked "Is their a particular VSI personaility type?" this prompts the exploration of "thrill seeker" psychology. The paper ends with thoughts on the morality of violence and this societies attitude to phenomena like Redemptive Violence (wink)

This document combines a psychological and philosophical analysis of the sports-entertainment industry and the morality of simulated violence. This paper concludes that the VSI has its main tolerated expressions limited to sport and the horror genrem and that the watchers and participents gratify the VSI through climactic experiences known as "the rush", that the conditions for such involve danger, excitement and risk. It concludes that simulated violence is tollerated by society (usually as a sport) due to saftey rules, and cinema because the violence is only real in fantasy, although the symbolism is very real indeed.

[Tyburn]

Contents

Part One - Morality, Symbolism and Society

Introduction

Chapter One -The basis of the VSI
Chapter Two - The History of the VSI
Chapter Three - The Symbolic Code

Part Two - The VSI Expressed

Chapter Four - Professional Wrestling
Chapter Five - Blurring Boundaries
Chapter Six - Thrill Seeker Psychology

Part Three - Moral Consequences

Chapter Seven - Hypocisy

Conclusion

I only wish I had known about Mixed Martial Arts...it would have made a very different, and fantastic addition to this thesis. It was completed in summer 2003

[Tyburn]

Glad this has attracted so much attention

[Neezar]

[Tyburn]

Originally Posted by Neezar

not quite the attention I was seeking...but never mind

[Neezar]

Originally Posted by Tyburn

not quite the attention I was seeking...but never mind

Hey, at least I'm here.

[Tyburn]

Originally Posted by Neezar

Hey, at least I'm here.

indeed you are!

[Neezar]

Now what?

For what it's worth I agree with the premise of your dissertation Dave, it's just a pity you weren't into mma when you wrote it, because that is probably an even better example of this VSI thingy than wrestling and you would have enjoyed writing it even more, though saying that your dissertation would have then just been about Jens Pulver and gotten horribly off-topic, and you would have flunked, so maybe it's a good thing you didn't know about mma back then lol.

[Tyburn]

Originally Posted by Neezar

Now what?

who knows