Vick indicted in dog fighting case

[Drolefille]

However, turning that around, many many serial killers have a history of abuse. It's a combination of nature and nurture IMO.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

I was listening to a local sports talk radio show & got so upset, I tried to call!

The host said that the crime Vick has allegely committed is "not that bad." He said, "it's not one of the Ten Commandments...it's not as bad as murder" and that he should "not have to go to jail if convicted."

Hello! It's a felony in 50 states.

Originally Posted by Drolefille

However, turning that around, many many serial killers have a history of abuse. It's a combination of nature and nurture IMO.

I agree - I'm just wondering aloud if:

a) Is there a genetic predisposition to violence of the worst sort and
b) How do we stop it? At what age should society give up on a violent child with the genetic predisposition towards it?

[Tom Earp]

Maybe it is because Vick is a not so poor Black man who did not know better?

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I agree - I'm just wondering aloud if:

a) Is there a genetic predisposition to violence of the worst sort and
b) How do we stop it? At what age should society give up on a violent child with the genetic predisposition towards it?

Of course, I don't pretend to know the answers, and even if there is a predisposition, which I'm inclined to agree with, as Drolefille pointed out, there is often abuse in the environment, too.

Some people get a double dose of the factors that would make them violent in the ways we're talking about. They have whatever genetic contribution that might matter, and then they are often raised by violent and abusive people who hurt them and also model hurting people and criminal behavior as "normal" things.

I don't know at what point the irresistibly violent urge going to be permanently switched on, but I really think that it is in some cases. Without literally constant monitoring, some of them are going to act on it. And I think it's actually set in some cases at shockingly young ages.

I think we can try to find out what the traits are and how they show themselves and then for this very narrow sub-set of people,* we should just never let them out of jail, no matter how young they were when we figured it out.

*I don't even think that most violent criminals are like this. I think a higher number either can be rehabilitated or can be kept in jail past the age at which they are likely to be most violent. But I think Ted Bundy would have kept killing until he was dead, no matter how long he lived, and there's no point in pretending that people like him (or Dalmer, Gacey, the Green River Killer, or the BTK guy) can be fixed.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I agree - I'm just wondering aloud if:

a) Is there a genetic predisposition to violence of the worst sort and
b) How do we stop it? At what age should society give up on a violent child with the genetic predisposition towards it?

Originally Posted by AlphaGamUGAAlum

Of course, I don't pretend to know the answers, and even if there is a predisposition, which I'm inclined to agree with, as Drolefille pointed out, there is often abuse in the environment, too.

Some people get a double dose of the factors that would make them violent in the ways we're talking about. They have whatever genetic contribution that might matter, and then they are often raised by violent and abusive people who hurt them and also model hurting people and criminal behavior as "normal" things.

I don't know at what point the irresistibly violent urge going to be permanently switched on, but I really think that it is in some cases. Without literally constant monitoring, some of them are going to act on it. And I think it's actually set in some cases at shockingly young ages.

I think we can try to find out what the traits are and how they show themselves and then for this very narrow sub-set of people,* we should just never let them out of jail, no matter how young they were when we figured it out.

*I don't even think that most violent criminals are like this. I think a higher number either can be rehabilitated or can be kept in jail past the age at which they are likely to be most violent. But I think Ted Bundy would have kept killing until he was dead, no matter how long he lived, and there's no point in pretending that people like him (or Dalmer, Gacey, the Green River Killer, or the BTK guy) can be fixed.

A JAVMA reference about pit bull terriers

Yes, there is a genetic predisposition to violence. It involved large subfamilies of genes, which are different in each human criminal profile. If the YY chromosome is one case of genetic development of violent behavior and psychotic thought patterns or even early stage schizophrenic episodes for that matter, then it is quite conceivable there is a molecular physiological predisposition toward violence.

However, the key issue is ENVIRONMENT! If children who are inappropriately reared, such a sexually/physically abused, then the likelihood of triggering these violent episodes.

Another issue is lack of nutrients, especially vitamin B-6 and B-12. Without vitamin B-12, a whole slew of differentials appear with neuropsychotropic malbehaviors.

How to stop it. Early intervention and the best pre-pregnancy, prenatal and post natal care that includes dieticians, nutritionists, age appropriate exercises and care.

View and support Amnesty International's and UNICEF's child protection to make early childhood development a "Geneva Convention" or International Law...