Sociopathic Tendencies: Inevitably Present In our Genetic Makeup

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A personality described as “charming”, “friendly”, and “sympathetic” on the outside can be picked apart to discover a horrific truth—a human being lacking a conscience to the point of being able to lie without guilt—one who lacks the capacity to feel emotion. This person cannot create relationships, for he does not know happiness, empathy, or love. Yet he walks among society, seemingly having the world wrapped around his finger. This person is a sociopath; a coldblooded manipulator. A fascination in these beings has brought forth various tests, experiments, and studies—all to determine whether these sociopathic tendencies are an inevitable part of nature, or a preventable product of nurture. While existing evidence supports one’s upbringing and culture as factors in determining personality, stronger evidence, including the heritability of personality traits, proves genetics to be the source of sociopathic tendencies. The concepts of nature and nurture have long been fascinations for the human being. Perhaps fearful of their own nature, humans seek to determine whether their personalities are inevitable or moldable. In the case of sociopathy, there are various views. In support of sociopathy as a product of nurture, scientists and psychologists cite cases of attachment disorder—acquired by infants who lack a stable caretaker in their early years, and thus have troubles forming functional relationships later on. Others cite evidence from the impacts of cultural differences or acquired frontal-lobe brain injuries on the development of sociopathic tendencies. While these views are moderately subjective, studies using sociopathic paternal and fraternal twins offer more convincing and objective information regarding the origin... ... middle of paper ... ...hed into the human being. Studies have emerged supporting nurture as the source of sociopathy—they are, however, mere lifelines to which humans cling to—a false source of hope as the truth is denied. Legitimate studies, accompanied by analysis and reasoning, prove nature—genetics—to be the origin of sociopathy. Works Cited “Elsevier; An Underlying Cause for Psychopathic Behavior?” Mental Health Weekly Digest 10 May 2010: n. pag. ProQuest Central K12. Web. 5 Feb. 2012. Hare, Robert D. Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of Psychopaths Among Us. N.p.: The Guilford Press, 1999. Google Book Search. Web. 5 Feb. 2012. Magid, Ken, and Caroline A. Mckelvey. High Risk: Children Without a Conscience. N.p.: Bantam, 1988. Google Book Search. Web. 2 Feb. 2012. Stout, Martha. The Sociopath Next Door. N.p.: Broadway Books, 2005. Google Book Search. Web. 5 Feb. 2012.

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