The psychopath is not a new concept. There have been crazy people roaming our earth since the beginning of time, however it has only been in the last decade or so that we have made large breakthroughs in what contributes to how someone becomes psychopathic. There are a few genetic and circumstantial variables that, when not recognized or paid attention to, can lead to immoral or unethical behavior. The presence of a certain gene, coupled with a troubling childhood, are the two main determining factors in creating situations where people make decisions that are later judged to be immoral and/or unethical.
Paul Bloom, a psychologist and writer for the New York times, said in his 2010 article “The Moral Life of Babies” that one’s morals are set by the time we hit our first birthday. This is unfortunate, because often times children in rough neighborhoods who have been raised in a violent household or school environment, do not have the basic morals that many of us in wealthier neighborhoods share. Couple this with a missing MAOA gene, and it can be trouble. A missing MAOA gene has been linked to the genetic reason for why people are psychopathic. It makes them less likely to feel empathy or see people as people and not just objects. Any person who is abused when they are little naturally has pent up anger towards those who mistreated them, and possibly the society in which cultivated their poor situation, as well. They are more likely to show violent behavior and commit immoral/unethical crimes than those who grew up in a caring household and school environment.
If you are missing the MAOA gene and were raised in a negative environment, you are essentially destined to be a criminal.
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