I fall very heavily on the nature side myself on this issue. But I agree that the more we learn about this, the more we can TREAT the bad nature that is dealt to some people. Then we enter lots of moral dilemmas, too. How much to meddle, when to meddle, etc.?

As someone who has suffered from a clinical depression, however, I do want to point out that depression can really NOT be inherited, but it does often occur when one’s mental chemistry is changed by situations. My depression was very definitely caused by my nature–my willingness to be too, too forgiving and caring (it’s called my altruistic tendencies). But the depression was also caused by the fact that because of that tendency on my part, I became the victim of a controlling narcissist and spent years after years of enduring emotional abuse before I could find a way out. The treatment for the SITUATIONAL depression that I finally was able to receive gave me back my life, my earlier more cheerful and clear thinking mind that found a way out. One thing it also did was permanently change me into someone who doesn’t trust others as much as I used to. I was on medication and treatment only six months.

About 15 years ago I worked in a lab doing studies on compounds used to treat various neurological problems, such as depression. We used a lab-developed type of cell to test the efficacy of drugs like cocaine, serotonin, norepinephrine. It was impressive to see how these cells (which had been selected for their ability to process such drugs) could take up the compounds or not. From those studies I became convinced that some “psychological problems” are actually the result of biochemistry. In other words, it’s not in our heads; it’s in our cells.

Probably the best-known example is depression which used to be considered a mental problem and was treated with psychotherapy. People struggled for years before Prozac “miraculously” cleared up their symptoms. Only it wasn’t a miracle. It was that their brains couldn’t process serotonin efficiently without some outside help.

Now I’m not saying all who are depressed are the victims of their genes, but alot of folks are. And an interesting aside is that some compulsions, like over-eating, gambling and out-of-control shopping are “cured” by the same antidepressants. So-called mental glitches can sometimes be reduced to a matter of personal biochemistry.

In like manner, I do believe it’s possible to be born with the characteristics of good or bad. That said, I also think it’s possible to prevent genetic makeup from dictating our outcomes. (I’m not suggesting every baby be tested and put on the appropriately corrective drug at birth.)

I guess I’m trying to agree with both nurture and nature, but falling on the side of nature for the most part.
(Sorry for the lecture.)

http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/columbineeight.php

Yikes!

I remember that as a young teacher in training we had to read a small book in one of our education courses, the title of which I do not recall. (This was very late 60′s.) Most of our ed courses, which I almost always felt were a mostly useless, were nothing but pep talks about what a wonderful “calling” we had and how we could change the world by teaching the next astronauts, Congressmen, doctors, nurses, etc. But this book was the first honest book we were given. Sure, we’d have all those naive overachievers in our classes, those want-to-do-good kids (and they WERE wonderful to have); but, as the book pointed out, we would also have the future rapists, gangsters, robbers, murderers, etc., in our classes, and we needed to be prepared for that. It was a book that didn’t really hold to the accepted notion at the time that ALL was nurture and nurture was the answer to all our problems.

Modern neurobiology, neuropsychology, neurolinguistics, etc., is pointing out very clearly that much is Nature, too. Sociopaths and Psychopaths are basically born. They are everywhere. Some tear through other people’s lives and become hated by many yet do little violent damage. Others are definite dangers to society. Read The Sociopath Next Door. It’s an eye opener.

Narcissits are, on the other hand, usually “made” by narcissistic parenting, as far as I know. They are also, however, extremely damaging to the people whose lives they share. And they can also be extremely dangerous.

I am convinced that there are many, many people among these two groups working in banking, Wall Street, and government. I believe our society actually tends to award their behaviors.

The other book you all need to read is Evil Genes. It studies the link between narcissism and some of the major evil leaders of history.

You are the security expert, what is your opinion on this? Heresay, or contemptuous? You have always been honest, so please comment. Thank you.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=95451