The Hidden Link Between Childhood Violence and Global Conflict
When we talk about peace, we often picture political negotiations, military ceasefires, and international treaties. But what if the seeds of peace, or violence, are sown much earlier?
Research shows that the first place we learn about power, care, and conflict is in the home. These early experiences shape not only our personal lives but the systems we build as adults - from schools and workplaces to governments and global institutions.
Violence at home is the most pervasive - and overlooked - form of human violence
According to UNICEF, more than 1.6 billion children worldwide experience some form of violence every year, whether physical, sexual, or emotional.¹ And while these numbers are staggering, they’re often treated as isolated family matters, separate from the broader issues of war, inequality, and injustice.
But Dr. Riane Eisler, bestselling author of The Chalice and the Blade and architect of the Partnership vs. Domination framework, has spent decades showing how violence in the home is not just personal — it’s systemic.
“The patterns of domination we experience as children become the blueprint for the world we create as adults,” Eisler explains.²
When children grow up in environments where control and fear are normalized, they’re more likely to accept inequality, authoritarianism, and even violence in society at large. Conversely, when they grow up in homes where care, empathy, and mutual respect are modeled, they’re more likely to build systems rooted in partnership and peace.
Neuroscience confirms the impact
The effects of early violence are not just psychological — they’re neurological. Studies from leading neuroscientists like Dr. Richard Davidson at the University of Wisconsin–Madison show that chronic stress and exposure to violence can alter a child’s brain development, particularly in areas responsible for emotional regulation and empathy.³
This has profound consequences: children raised in violent homes often struggle with trust, conflict resolution, and emotional safety later in life — skills that are foundational to building peaceful communities.
But there’s hope. Davidson’s research also shows that the brain is malleable, and interventions that promote compassion, mindfulness, and relational safety can begin to reverse the effects of early harm.
The cycle doesn’t stop at the front door
It’s not hard to see how these patterns ripple outward.
In homes governed by domination, children learn that problems are solved through coercion, not collaboration.
Those same children grow up and carry those lessons into schools, workplaces, political systems, and international relations.
We see this reflected in everything from gender inequality and racial injustice to global conflicts that devastate entire regions.
Breaking the cycle: From domination to partnership
The good news? Patterns can change. And when they do, the impact can be transformational.
Cultures that value partnership — where caregiving is respected, where diversity is celebrated, and where power is shared rather than hoarded — are consistently linked with lower levels of violence, stronger democracies, and healthier economies.⁴
As Dr. Eisler writes:
“Peace is more than the absence of war. It’s a way of relating — to ourselves, to each other, and to the systems we live within.”²
This is what we’ll explore at the Peace Begins at Home Summit
On October 29, 2025, the Peace Begins at Home Summit will bring together 21 speakers from 13 countries to examine how patterns of domination learned in childhood ripple outward into every system we build — and how we can replace them with cultures of partnership.
You’ll hear from neuroscientists, peacebuilders, Indigenous leaders, educators, and activists, including:
Dr. Riane Eisler (94) – author and social systems scientist
Dr. Richard Davidson – neuroscientist on compassion and violence prevention
Lyla June Johnston – Indigenous scholar and community organizer
Zainab Salbi – humanitarian and founder of Daughters of Earth
👉 Register now to be part of this global, virtual gathering. If you can’t attend live, you’ll receive 30-day replay access.
Because peace doesn’t begin at a negotiating table.
It begins at home.
Sources
UNICEF. A Familiar Face: Violence in the lives of children and adolescents. 2017. Link
Eisler, R. The Chalice and the Blade & Nurturing Our Humanity. HarperOne, 1987 & Oxford University Press, 2019.
Davidson, R. & McEwen, B. Social influences on neuroplasticity: Stress and interventions to promote well-being. Nature Neuroscience, 2012.
Eisler, R. The Real Wealth of Nations. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2008.