The development of peaceful relationships, rather than the containment of conflict, was at the core of Curle's conception of peace. While other peace researchers have tended to analyse social, political, and military systems, Curle's work focused on the values and attitudes of individuals within those systems. Curle played an important role in the emergence of peace studies as a separate field from international relations, and in the incorporation of insights from psychology, especially humanistic psychology, into the field.
The cultivation of harmonious connections, rather than the suppression of discord, was at the heart of Curle's vision of peace. While other researchers have concentrated on examining social, political, and military frameworks, Curle's work centered on the values and attitudes of individuals within those systems. Curle played a significant role in the development of peace studies as a distinct discipline from international relations, and in integrating insights from psychology, particularly humanistic psychology, into the field.