The Human Beast

I am facinated by this article. On a personal level, I've been trying to reconcile a family member's diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder against her lifetime of abusing her family. I've been musing if our anger is justified, or if we should forgive her disease. Your line about judges and juries preferring to find sociopaths "bad not mad" was especially poignant and relevant. I'd really like to read more about this subject. I'm enjoying your blog, and have subscribed. Thanks!

We need to stop excusing the bad behavior of others with new names that frame them as victims. The only real victims are people who are abused. As the article clearly states, “This disorder is heritable and involves reduced volume of cells in the prefrontal cortex.” This tells me that ‘Brain Disordered’ individuals have evolved with less of the part of the brain that makes us civilized.

I agree that we should hold people accountable for their actions and that structural differences in neurological develop appear in antisocial individuals, however, the brain is not a static organ. Antisocial brains may come with a genetic predisposition for antisocial tendencies, but it is not predetermined. In reality, its the combination of genes and environment that creates this problem. These individuals are often both victims and perpetrators. By victim, I dont just mean abuse, I mean victims of poverty, a failing education system, poor parenting, and genetics, all risk factors that aligned during sensitive periods of neurological growth to create their problems. Often, even children with antisocial tendencies at a young age, can be helped back on track if they have protective factors, like parental support, accountability, access to quality education, role models, health care, and positive peers. So, yes they should be held accountable, but they also reflect their environment. As a I once read "those with the most need, often receive the least support."

Let's get straight to the point. Do you believe in free will?