Psychopathy hypothetical

[mekon]

Well, I've always had a healthy interest in what makes people kill or behave impulsively. After watching the UK TV show Horizon do a show on 'Good And Evil', I'm intrigued to know your thoughts.

The show explained that in recent times studies have identified the Warrior gene MAO-A (Mono-amine Oxidase A). This gene when mutated shows as an anomaly in a PET scan of people as having limited activity in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, areas that control empathy and impulsive behaviour. People that fit this profile can often be diagnosed with Brunner Syndrome where the mutation of MAO-A results in deficiencies of seratonin, dopamine and epinephrine which regulate impulsive behaviour and such these people exhibit behaviours like arson, hypersexuality and aggressive posturing (taken from wiki).

People that exhibit or become psychopaths have this genetic defect and often have suffered a traumatic childhood, although mostly exhibited in Caucasians and not non black Americans in a study by P. Crampton and C. Parkin.

In fact a murderer in America in 2009 was charged with a lesser crime and had the first degree murder charge dropped due to genetic and psychological proof he had the deficiency and an abusive childhood. He still got 32 years but the death penalty was taken off the table.

I'm curious on people's views on preventative treatments, let's say from birth people could be easily identified with this predisposition. Should they be treated (by whatever means) against their will or left alone to seek treatment on their own if they wish.
Obviously we have free will and choice, often in serious offenders treatments are enforced like chemical control of libido in serious sex offenders. I'm not wishing to know about convicted psychopaths that have killed, but more should it be treated early on in life. By psychopathic behaviour I don't necessarily mean a killer, they could be your run of the mill office psycho, manipulating others.

So the hypothetical, you have a newborn child he or she is identified with the genetic markers that indicate a propensity to become a psychopath, although you're sure you can provide a stable family environment you can't be sure or control the environment or external influences. Do you have your child treated, ultimately changing their personality?

[Mo-Fo]

fuck that's a tough one... I'd say know what you're dealing with and watch out for any developing negative behaviour patterns, aggression or angry wanking. If they start to show up then seek out probable treatment, if not then count your blessings and hope the kid continous to behave in a relatively normal way.

[Rhinosaur]

ban meth?

[dadwantsafyabl4de2]

I'd go looking for the fucker that made the diagnosis.

[KiM]

wtf is angry wanking?
is that like angry sex..... on yourself?

[mekon]

The diagnosis isn't made, just the markers identified that are part of an indication of being a psychopath.

[Sventek]

Given that a goodly number of psychopaths end up being CEOs, I'd probably leave them alone. If they harmed animals, though, that would change my mind.

Edit: That's a mostly tongue-in-cheek reply...

[dadwantsafyabl4de2]

The diagnosis isn't made, just the markers identified that are part of an indication of being a psychopath.

Many will make the same mistake I did, with the same result.

[Iron_Zombie]

Not just something people are "born" with.
frontal lobe damage, results of head trauma specifically have been vicariously linked to such behaviors, Fred West, believed to have suffered a head trauma, which "changed" him.
The obvious behaviors he is known for but also such strange habits like eating onions like apples...

Frontal lobe damage can be devastating.

[Rhinosaur]

Seriously.

Ban meth.

Only crimes that aren't of passion are drug related IMO

[devolved]

Currently reading "Without Conscience" By Dr. Robert Hare -

Having dealt first-hand with someone who was probably pretty high on the scale and personally losing plenty, I don't feel much sympathy for them. Whether its nature or nurture or a combination, the smart ones know exactly what they're doing and why and they don't give a fuck. They know what they are and what sort of people they need to give them a healthy dose of narcissistic supply.

Seeing as treatment of an adult psychopath can actually make them better psychopaths, early treatment or attempted early treatment might be the only option. Seeing as kids as young as 4 or 5 can show these tendencies, you'd have to start damn early, get it diagnosed, then hope that the treatment helps them learn empathy and compassion and doesn't just make them 3 times the monster they may have been.

I'd like to see a lot more work in this area, as I'm sure all of us have been affected by these people - and not only are they a pain in the arse, they can also be fucking scary.

[Desmo]

A genetic predisposition is just that, it doesn't mean that because you have the genetic markers to pull the wings off flies and gut pretty brunettes like fish, that you are going to do it.

[Ayanami]

What Desmo said.

Gattaca anyone?

[Mo-Fo]

wtf is angry wanking?
is that like angry sex..... on yourself?

what? you've never had one?

oh you don't know what your're missing!

[shan]

First page and already a narzi referance,
Wernt the jews at the for front of this type of science once upon a time.
They were helping the narzies with many experiments,
this is the sort of mentality reading this reminds me off.
In 3 aspects,
the science of it.
beliveing you should do something about it
Beliveing you have the right to do something about it.

Lets us all be perfect people, the freeks of whom do not fit our objectives for what a person shall be will be modified.
Obey and asimulate for euphoric state is upon us

[Maxo]

ban meth?

Seriously.

Ban meth.

Only crimes that aren't of passion are drug related IMO

I couldn't find a link to legalising meth in the article?

[Rhinosaur]

Keep looking

[Desmo]

You know, instead of being difficult, why don't you just clarify what the fuck you meant?

[XXX3]

I hope

a) I have this marker

b) It becomes a legal defence/absolution for violent crimes

[Deano]

Shan, your response (and general literacy of said response) make me cringe. "Narzi" - seriously?!??!

I think genetic manipulation should be enforced on foetuses. (*ducks from all those bearing Crucifixes*) I am a Christian (believe it, it's true) but I don't believe genetic manipulation to correct a programming error is any more or any less questionable or objectionable than people taking SSRI's (antidepressant) to normalize the absorption of serotonin throughout the cerebral cortex.