Final answer:
Thomas Hobbes's bleak view of human nature was influenced by his experiences during the English Civil War and his belief that, without a strong government, human life would be marked by continuous conflict and chaos.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thomas Hobbes's grim view of human nature was likely a result of his observations on the human condition and the tumultuous times during which he lived, which included the English Civil War. Hobbes's perception centers around the belief that in a state of nature, humans would live in endless conflict and fear, which would make life 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short' without the establishment of a strong government. His theory suggests that to escape this brutal state of nature, people must enter into a social contract, surrender some of their freedoms, and establish a sovereign authority that has absolute power to ensure peace and security. Hobbes's choice of an absolute monarchy as the most effective government form was underpinned by his assertion that such a government could prevent the anarchy and mutual self-destruction that humans would otherwise experience.