Many research projects seek to discover the (regulatory) causes of certain kinds of behaviors, such as acts of violence. Of course, in social research there is a critical difference and correlation between two variables and causation. David Hume (26 April 1711–25 August 1776),� a philosopher of the Scottish Enlightenment and one of the greatest minds of Western Philosophy, believed that “A caused B,” or “B happened because of A,” or that “Whenever A occurs, then B does.” His philosophy, belonging to empiricism, was of the positivist view. This necessary connection or necessary relation is what is called David Hume’s concept of causation.

On the other hand, John Burton, a prominent scholar specializing in international relations and conflict resolution, established a direct link between interstate and inter-group conflicts and the issue of basic human needs. His studies on identity, recognition and survival, in the light of conflict resolution, have become the hallmarks of sociopsychological approaches in dealing with violence.
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