Bad Genes and Bad Brains

If you think genes don’t affect how people behave, consider this fact: if you are a carrier of a particular set of genes, the probability that you will commit a violent crime is four times as high as it would be if you lacked those genes. You’re three times as likely to commit robbery, five times as likely to commit aggravated assault, eight times as likely to be arrested for murder, and 13 times as likely to be arrested for a sexual offense. The overwhelming majority of prisoners carry these genes; 98.1 percent of death-row inmates do.

...

By the way, as regards that dangerous set of genes, you’ve probably heard of them. They are summarized as the Y chromosome. If you’re a carrier, we call you a male.

-- David Eagleman, "The Brain on Trial" at The Atlantic

It looks like Scott Adams was not so wrong about his 'pegs and holes' argument. However, the article here is about a lot more than gender differences, going over the gene/brain determinism perspective and its implications for the legal system. I am only excerpting the first part, describing some of the stranger case histories, including one notorious to these parts, the University of Texas Tower sniper, the Charles Whitman case.

( excerpt )

Bad Genes and Bad Brains

If you think genes don’t affect how people behave, consider this fact: if you are a carrier of a particular set of genes, the probability that you will commit a violent crime is four times as high as it would be if you lacked those genes. You’re three times as likely to commit robbery, five times as likely to commit aggravated assault, eight times as likely to be arrested for murder, and 13 times as likely to be arrested for a sexual offense. The overwhelming majority of prisoners carry these genes; 98.1 percent of death-row inmates do.

...

By the way, as regards that dangerous set of genes, you’ve probably heard of them. They are summarized as the Y chromosome. If you’re a carrier, we call you a male.

-- David Eagleman, "The Brain on Trial" at The Atlantic

It looks like Scott Adams was not so wrong about his 'pegs and holes' argument. However, the article here is about a lot more than gender differences, going over the gene/brain determinism perspective and its implications for the legal system. I am only excerpting the first part, describing some of the stranger case histories, including one notorious to these parts, the University of Texas Tower sniper, the Charles Whitman case.

( excerpt )

Examine Your Psyche

( My Words )

Examine Your Psyche

( My Words )

Rape-Play Therapy

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Rape-Play Therapy

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