Do You Think That Some People May Be Genetically Predisposed To Evil?

[sp1814]

One person in a family may be an aberration, two may be a disaster, but three???

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rose-wests-nephew-steven-letts-jailed-for-raping-and-abducting-girl-12_uk_5a0b1d84e4b0b17ffce09e7c?utm_hp_ref=uk-news

[Zacs-Master]

You can’t put it down to genetics until you’ve ruled out conditioning / family background.

[KARL]

Zacs is in my opinion correct - you are looking at the age old nurture versus nature conundrum.

[Buenchico]

Genetic variations in MAOA (monoamine oxidase-A) have been shown to be linked to increased levels of risk-taking behaviour, as well as being linked to increased aggression levels. So that's clearly one possible genetic link.

Further, there seems to be considerable evidence that some forms of autism are inherited. (I'm on the autism spectrum, as clearly was my father and his brother, with them almost certainly having inherited their autism from their father). Autism can result in people not really caring about others, or bonding with them. That can have benefits, as people with high-functioning autism often excel in the so-called 'caring' professions, precisely because they can stand back from situations and not get perrsonally involved. (e.g. a paramedic who regards his work as 'just a job' is probably far more efficient than someone who feels deeply for casualties). Conversely though, it can mean that they're more likely to commit crimes (especially sexual ones) because they're unable to see things from the point of view of their victims.

So genetics may definitely have some influence over whether people do, or don't, commit crimes. However that's not to say that environmental factors might not be far more important.

[anneasquith]

I believe some people are born evil, mix that with inappropriate background, leads to evil acts .

[ladybirder]

Fred West's childhood was horrific. No surprise he turned out as he did.

[Old_Geezer]

Evil is a human concept and a definition as to what counts may differ from culture to culture and from individual to individual. I'm not even sure there is such a thing save as a shorthand way to describe anything that appalls one.

I think it's amazing brains evolved to work as well ad they do. That there is a variety of ways it gets wired up and influenced by what's slopping around the body. So there are bound to be a range of personalities including those who see no restrictions on their behavior. Does that make them born evil, or formed evil soon after birth ? Or just the 'random luck of the draw' that they've become unsocial non-empathetic individuals who only see what they want as having value ?

I suspect a combination of unfortunate default programming of the brain coupled with influencing experiences results in dangerous individuals.

[Old_Geezer]

I think this tablet keyboard and it's autocorrect is under the delusion that I'm American :-(

[ummmm]

Fred and Rosemary West met by chance. Nothing to do with family connections.

[mikey4444]

No, there is no evidence in this case that genetics had any part to play at all. Zacs has it right at 21:48 yesterday.

Also Ladybirder has made a very good point....read about how Fred West was brought up, and you can quite clearly see the beginnings of his personality defects.

Nurture, not nature.

[mikey4444]

OG...switch off the auto-correct !

[douglas9401]

I heard it was all God's plan.

[Samuraisan]

How could the support worker, who was supposedly with her, let her go off with him?

[ummmm]

I thought that, Sam.

Mikey - A brief look at Fred West's history suggests his behaviour became more erratic after a brain injury.

[Bigbad]

You are right about Fred West’s brain injury, ummmm. (Motorcycle accident, I believe).
But he was allegedly having sex with his mother and animals from a young age, so I think nurture was relevant in his case.

[jackthehat]

Rose West came from a disfunctional family. She had sex with her own father and always claimed that her family were of the opinion that a girl's first 'babby' (sic) ought to be her Daddy's....
With a patriarch like that, it's no wonder that the children/grandchildren have grown up with skewed views on sex.

[Islay]

Given that Rose West's Nephew is currently involved in an alleged Rape trial I believe that it is how you are brought up that makes you evil, not if you are born evil.

[Islay]

Sorry and I just realised what your story was!!
Hangs head in shame for not reading links!