I'd like to have more faith in humanity than that. I honestly don't think that the vast majority of people would resort to violence, as you say, "if it were to their advantage."
I do think there are many people out there who are violent and opportunistic, but they are not the majority.
I don't think the majority of people would hesitate to put their welfare above mine. From there to outright physical violence is a stretch. If you look at huge natural disasters, like the recent devastation of Hurricane Katrina, you'll note that the vast majority did *not* engage in violence. They were lost, disoriented, unable to do much other than fend for themselves and their close families, but there was relatively little violence involved for a disaster on that scale.
I do think you're being pessimistic about human nature on the whole. Sure, disaster brings out the worst in us, but it also brings out the best in us. :)
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I do think there are many people out there who are violent and opportunistic, but they are not the majority.
I don't think the majority of people would hesitate to put their welfare above mine. From there to outright physical violence is a stretch. If you look at huge natural disasters, like the recent devastation of Hurricane Katrina, you'll note that the vast majority did *not* engage in violence. They were lost, disoriented, unable to do much other than fend for themselves and their close families, but there was relatively little violence involved for a disaster on that scale.
I do think you're being pessimistic about human nature on the whole. Sure, disaster brings out the worst in us, but it also brings out the best in us. :)