[Kamog]

This would apply to extra-terrestrial contact as well. So long as said contact was peaceful (ie. did not threaten our survival) our species wide benevolence would continue. If, however, our survival were to be called into question we would have no difficulty in reverting to the efficient engines of destruction that two billion years of evolution has shaped us to be

I agree with this statement. For example, think of how a parent reacts when a child is threatened in any way. Thoughts of peace and benevolance go out the window really quickly. We are quite willing to kill in order to protect ourselves and our children.