Conflict Between Science And Religion Lies In Our Brains

[Crow]

Thanks.

Yep, I am aware that autism is primarily genetics (it's a developmental disorder, not a personality type). Though like true psychopaths they are not neurotypical in their brain structure.

Personality disorders which are not the same as a personality type are also genetic in the same manner as development disorders even though there has been no isolated gene as is the case with psychopathy schizophrenia, depression, hyperactivity and a range of other personality disorders. However there is always the 'warrior gene' (not actually its name I just can't remember the proper name for it and too lazy to google) in the individuals that have been diagnosed with a form of psychopathy that have been tested as well as a few others that I can never remember the names of, perhaps without the 'warrior gene' the link to aggression and thrill seeking the other factors don't express themselves in an obvious way to be diagnosed. A sociopath on the other hand will often have very different mental activity to that of a psychopath, the expressions can be similar or even identical but the causes are different.

[xSilverPhinx]

The 'warrior gene' (MAO-A or Monoamine oxidase A) is actually interesting because it isn't as deterministic as that.  There are the so called plasticity genes whose functioning has been linked to supportive or unsupportive parenting in this article here. The frontal lobe, which is responsible for self-regulation of emotions and for executive functioning develops well into adolescence and is still very susceptible to modulation by experiences. It's interesting because instead of evaluating just the effects of environmental stresses on emotional self-regulation it also takes a look at how positive environmental conditions can determine outcomes.

Linked in that article is another which says that high levels of MAO-A protect against the impact of childhood maltreatment and adversity on the development of antisocial behavior and conduct disorder. For individuals with the genotype associated with low MAO-A they observed the familiar pattern associated with the "cycle of violence" (i.e., child abuse and neglect associated with an increased risk for violent and antisocial behaviors).

I haven't found full versions for free but have access to them so if you want to read any let me know and I'll send them to you. 

[Crow]

To your point on low MAO-A and the cycle of violence would that be the abuser or the person being abused with the low levels. I'm guessing it would be the abuser due to the sentence prior.

[xSilverPhinx]

To your point on low MAO-A and the cycle of violence would that be the abuser or the person being abused with the low levels. I'm guessing it would be the abuser due to the sentence prior.

They found that people being abused who had low levels of MAO-A would themselves become violent towards others and antisocial. Could be that the abuser also had lower levels as higher levels of this type of gene acts as a "buffer".

Like everything in biology there's always at least one exception to the rule...this study only found that effect for white males.