Our desire for violence

There must be something in our subconciouness that claims for a violent act. It might have cultural backgrounds and the history of violence on where we are born or how our infrantry developed.
What amazes me somehow is that there is some level of relief when we see a violent act or when we watch passively on violence (e.g.: a movie). Our fears of death and our redemption by imagining our own violent death seems like a reflection on the images we have absorbed through life.
My fear of heights is an example: I am not afraid of the height itself, I am afraid of what I can do in such a situation. I believe I was a bird and I believe I can fly. Experience, or rather consciousness, says the opposite. The image of people falling from buildings or bridges or cliff is a common one in Hollywood films.
This thought came when I went to see Philomena. It is a non physical movie but with an extreme violence. Some experiences can be like that. In certain terms, all political acts are violent. All domination, which includes psichological leadership or subordination, is also an act of violence.
It's a bit depressing the fact that our society is based on violence and that without it, we can't achieve the so called 'progress'. I am thus embarking on trying to understand where the non violent acts are and how they weave on realizing joy and the fulfillment. Any ideas anyone?