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Original sinners? - Evidence that psychopaths are born, not made
The Economist ^ | 26 may 2005 | The Economist

Posted on 05/29/2005 9:56:59 AM PDT by voletti

RESEARCHERS at the Institute of Psychiatry, in London, are not shy about tackling controversial topics. One of them, Terrie Moffitt, was responsible for studies that showed how different versions of the gene for one of the brain's enzymes resulted in different predispositions to criminal activity. Another, Robert Plomin, found the first plausible candidate for a gene that boosts intelligence. Now, Dr Moffitt and Dr Plomin have been helping two other researchers, Essi Viding and James Blair, with an equally high-profile study—one which asks whether psychopaths are born that way, or are made so by their upbringings.

That, of course, is rather a crude way of putting it. After decades of debate, biologists have come to understand what was blindingly obvious to most laymen—which is that rather than being shaped by nature or nurture, most behavioural traits are the result of an interaction between the two. Nevertheless, one or the other can still be the dominant factor. And the study in question, to be published in June's edition of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, suggests that in the case of psychopathy, the genetic side is very important indeed.

(Excerpt) Read more at economist.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: disorders; genetics; psychology; psychopaths
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Nature, nurture whatever...I believe, one ought to take moral responsibility for one's own actions and not seek to deflect blame. Though for something that is inborn, how does the case play out?
1 posted on 05/29/2005 9:56:59 AM PDT by voletti
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To: voletti
After murdering the entire town, the accused was found not guilty..because he couldn't help the way he was born!
2 posted on 05/29/2005 10:00:35 AM PDT by Dallas59 (" I have a great team that is going to beat George W. Bush" John Kerry -2004)
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To: voletti

Sounds like yet more efforts to advance the infamous Communist Goals posted frequently at FR.

Search Words: Communist Goals
ARCHIVE, Match Exact Phrase


3 posted on 05/29/2005 10:04:53 AM PDT by The Spirit Of Allegiance (SAVE THE BRAINFOREST! Boycott the RED Dead Tree Media & NUKE the DNC Class Action Temper Tantrum!)
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To: voletti
Why, any good liberal knows that man is basically good. That is, after all, how we can achieve utopia through social evolution. It's important that we don't acknowledge evil...but where it exists, we make up an excuse having to do with environmental factors, or we blame it on a wrong-headed notion of what constitutes evil to begin with.

Got it? If not, you will require re-education immediately.

4 posted on 05/29/2005 10:06:16 AM PDT by anniegetyourgun
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To: voletti
Yep, it is never the fault of the individual we are all slaves to our genes. If we are gay we have gay genes, if we are homicidal maniacs we have killer genes and if we are rednecks we have blue jeans.

The famous liberal blame anyone but the person syndrome.

5 posted on 05/29/2005 10:12:10 AM PDT by calex59
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To: voletti

INBORN? We can identify? We lock it up instantly? We execute born killers cause we know they are? Endless great possibilities from these so-called scientists..( Sigh-Kye-a- trysts)


6 posted on 05/29/2005 10:19:51 AM PDT by litehaus
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To: anniegetyourgun
Why, any good liberal knows that man is basically good.

IIRC, that's classical liberalism which is similar to conservatism today. I think it's more the liberal view that man can't be trusted individually and therefore government, or the collective, must rein him in.

achieve utopia through social evolution

Yep, utopianism is a leftist trap, dunno where that fits in.

7 posted on 05/29/2005 10:23:13 AM PDT by D-fendr
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To: voletti

This is yet another attempt to diminish or eliminate the idea of personal responsibility and morality. Evil and misconduct are really the fault of genetic defect after all.


8 posted on 05/29/2005 10:23:14 AM PDT by Ol' Sparky
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To: voletti
If it's "genetic" we need to remove them from the gene pool.

If it's "upbringing" we still need to get them out of the pool.

9 posted on 05/29/2005 10:28:19 AM PDT by joshhiggins
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To: voletti
That's B.S..

The only thing that can be said is that there are ATTRIBTUES that are passed down into a child BUT they can learn that some tendencies are wrong and overcome them.
10 posted on 05/29/2005 10:28:30 AM PDT by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: Blurblogger
Sounds like yet more efforts to advance the infamous Communist Goals posted frequently at FR.

If that's the case, then this man must be Ace Communist No. 1 as he's behind an international conspiracy dedicated to a belief in ORIGINAL SIN.

11 posted on 05/29/2005 10:29:01 AM PDT by Alter Kaker (Whatever tears one may shed, in the end one always blows one’s nose.-Heine)
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To: Dallas59
After murdering the entire town, the accused was found not guilty..because he couldn't help the way he was born!

By testing for the marker and preventing carriers of it from breeding, we could eliminate much of criminal activity in hte next generation.
DNA testing now provides a sound basis for real Eugenics, not the often race based pseudo-eugenics of the past.

So9

12 posted on 05/29/2005 10:32:46 AM PDT by Servant of the 9 (Trust Me)
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To: voletti
The Economist ALMOST GET'S IT!

"Though the genes in question have yet to be identified, this result suggests they are TOO ABUNDANT TO BE THERE BY CHANCE—in other words they are being kept in the population by natural selection because psychopathic behaviour confers a selective advantage. "

They can't identify the genes ... .

Yes, LIFE and all that it involves is NOT BY CHANCE! It is by Intelligent Design. Then they screw it all up by crediting "natural selection" which is TOTALLY idiotic.
13 posted on 05/29/2005 10:32:56 AM PDT by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God).)
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To: Alter Kaker; Liz; NYer; Mr. Silverback; little jeremiah; Sun; ExPatInFrance; Victoria Delsoul; ...

The true source of the evil is not biological but spiritual. The Pope is correct about Original Sin, we all are born with a sin nature yet can be redeemed by the Grace of God. (I'm Protestant).

The hidden agenda is to promote a hope that genetic research, cloning, purification of DNA etc. could remove "evil" from society. Propaganda from Hell, indeed and junk science intended to be sponsored with taxpayer money.


14 posted on 05/29/2005 10:40:40 AM PDT by The Spirit Of Allegiance (SAVE THE BRAINFOREST! Boycott the RED Dead Tree Media & NUKE the DNC Class Action Temper Tantrum!)
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To: voletti
"Though the genes in question have yet to be identified, this result suggests they are too abundant to be there by chance—in other words they are being kept in the population by natural selection because psychopathic behaviour confers a selective advantage. If it does, such an advantage probably pertains only when psychopaths are in the minority (a state of affairs known to biologists as a balanced polymorphism). But it does mean that far from being an aberrant behaviour, psychopathy may be disturbingly normal."

This is the part I found most interesting. The rest of it seemed more like common sense. Everyone who has been around babies knows they are born with their own personalities and dispositions.

15 posted on 05/29/2005 10:41:59 AM PDT by elmer fudd
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To: voletti

First, I think we can say that some people have a genetic predisposition to certain forms of mental illness and personality disorder. This includes bipolar disorder and may also include homosexuality.

Second, genetic predisposition argues very strongly that children be raised by their buiological parents if their biological parents are successful and happy in life. This way, the childred can learn from their parents how to successfully deal with their genetic inheritance, to their advantage rather than their disadvantage.

Third, related to this, a high preference in adoption would be close relatives who are themselves successful and happy in life.

Fourth, also related to this, custody in divorce should be given to the successful and happy parent, not simply be awarded all the time to the mother. In particular, if the marriage ended for no reason other than the mother decided to leave the family home, and the mother has never held a job, or established any social relationship outside of her close relatives, red lights should go off that maternal custody would be risky.

Fifth, people with certain genetic predispositions deserve our sympathy and not be automatically condemned, e.g., those who are inclined to be homosexuals. This doesn't mean we should make them into youth ministers at our churches or cub scout leaders. In other words, the gay gene doesn't mean we ignore what are temptations for people with this condition.


16 posted on 05/29/2005 10:43:03 AM PDT by Redmen4ever
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To: voletti
Biological Positivism: same old abysmal lie wrapped in new clothes every 4-5 years.

BTW, all of the major American Biological Positivists of the early 20th century were also admirers of Hitler and the Fascist system.
17 posted on 05/29/2005 10:43:47 AM PDT by streetpreacher (God DOES exist; He's just not into you!)
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To: Servant of the 9
So you are in favor of forced sterilization?
18 posted on 05/29/2005 10:45:53 AM PDT by escapefromboston (manny ortez: mvp)
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To: nmh
Yes, LIFE and all that it involves is NOT BY CHANCE! It is by Intelligent Design. Then they screw it all up by crediting "natural selection" which is TOTALLY idiotic.

You completely misunderstood the article. Natural Selection isn't "chance." And it's not endorsing ID.

19 posted on 05/29/2005 10:48:41 AM PDT by Strategerist
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To: Servant of the 9
a sound basis for real Eugenics

Now that's scary. The list of of those who thought they had a sound basis for real Eugenics is quite a rogue's gallery.

20 posted on 05/29/2005 10:49:44 AM PDT by D-fendr
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