Question

If we can't separate our civilized self from our savage self which will take over and why

Answer 1

War proves without doubt that the savage self is in control. I study the Holocaust. What I have discovered is that there were about 10000 righteous people recorded according to Sir Martin Guilbert, probably the most notable authority on the history of the Holocaust (WWII). You could check out the population of Europe in 1939 and again sometime after 1945. There definitely was a decrease. You could put some of that on the Jews who were captured and killed.

I bring up Guilbert because his history shows how few people were willing to take on the job of rescuing Jews. Many agreed with the killing of innocent civilians (older men and women, young children). Even now Holocausts have not been done away with. They have occurred in many countries. I am caught with the problem of explaining the righteous, however few there were.

There are good, principled, righteous people who do rise to the occasion. They are extremely difficult to ignore and they should be applauded and recognized for who they are and what they did. But there is too few of them.

So I believe in time of stress, our savage self prevails. War is the ultimate test of what you are trying to decide about.

Answer 2

our savage self will take over first because our selfish desires will put ourselves first over others no matter what.

civilized self only emerges in a situation where there is an abundance and wellness in yourself and the region