Born To Rage Research Paper

For as long as humanity has existed, men have committed violence against one another. Assuredly, Nancy G. Guerra’s and Lyndee Knox’s entry on violence in the Encyclopedia of Crime and Justice affirms that, “As historical and cross-cultural records demonstrate, our evolutionary history is laced with examples of violence. Indeed, paleontological data reveal a rather continuous stream of human violence dating back thousands of years.” It is clear that violence is a part of human nature that has always existed and will likely never be eradicated. One of the aspects that all forms of violence seem to share is that, societally (in terms, at the very least, of Western societies), they are looked down upon. Consequentially, those who commit violent

There are two main arguments supporting the idea that aggression and violence are biological and therefore inevitable in our world. In their essay Genetic Seeds of Warfare: Evolution, Nationalism and Patriotism, Paul Shaw and Wong Yuwa, in a darwinistic approach to human nature , argue that aggression is natural in the animal

Another example Karoliszyn uses in his article on predictive policing is the idea that genetic makeup could potentially be a cause of violent behavior. He states, “In years to come, many legal experts speculate, brain scans and DNA analysis could help to identify potential criminals at the young age of three.” The warrior gene is one of the things that scientist are looking for in these DNA tests and brain scans. This gene codes for the monoamine oxidase enzyme (MAOA). In “The Warrior Gene: Epigenetic Considerations,” it talks about the actions of those with the warrior gene. “Antisocial and violent behavior may or may not be associated with psychological measures that indicate an underlying personality disorder,” states the author of “The Warrior Gene: Epigenetic

If human beings are a part of nature, it can be assumed that they too have violent tendencies; in that respect, violence is a natural and innate response. Though we pride ourselves on being able to control these urges, they are always lurking somewhere beneath the surface of our most serene and civilized moments.

On the other hand, the same scientists who discovered the “warrior gene” say that just having this gene is not enough to say that the person will be violent (Brown University). Nonetheless, if it is linked to a history of childhood trauma and abuse, then the person will have a high chance of violence within. To answer the question, “Is it nature or nurture that makes a person violent?” these scientists would say both. It is a combination of genetics and how one is raised that could make a person violent. This leads to the question of Grendel’s childhood.

Modern biology is focused more on understanding behavior, like violence and crime, through research on indicators and influences. Rather than attempting to determine a single root cause, researchers are discovering markers of predisposition and identifying factors of risk. In a recent interview about his new book, The Anatomy of Violence: The Biological Roots of Crime, criminologist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Adrian Raine asserts that there is a “biology of violence” that should not be ignored; “Just as there’s a biological basis for schizophrenia and anxiety disorders and depression… there’s a biological basis also to recidivistic violent offending” (Gross, 2013).

It was not a topic that was brought up earlier, because there was tainted history of using biology to figure logistics of criminal behavior. Instead, criminologists look at social and environmental factors such as poverty rates, drug/weapon accessibility, and socialization. Over 100 studies have shown genes play a role in crime. Kevin Beaver, an associate professor at Florida State University’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice states approximately 50 percent of a human’s aggressive behavior is comprised of the thousands of expressed genes affected by the environment (Cohen). The other half of a human’s aggressive behavior is usually environmental or social factors such as, neighborhood, wealth, and education. It is important to also know the other factors that “make” someone a criminal because it will also help researcher see what else contributes to criminal activity (Eysenck).

Some people argue that violence is inherent in man. However every day we see many case in the new about crime because some people taking the law into their own hands so there are many factors that cause crime in the United States one of the most is common is racial crime.On hearing the news of a cruel murder, some people may react by saying, "The one who did it must be crazy!" However, not all individuals who report such acts are upset, although many do have problems coping with life's pressures. Hence, experts point out that violent behavior may also be due to certain defects of the aggressor's personality. These include: learning disabilities; difficulty in relating to others; psychological disorders due to physical abuse or sexual abuse; antisocial tendencies; aversion to a particular sector of society, such as women; lack of

In 1986, the Seville Statement on Violence was convened by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Part of this statement says that “it is scientifically incorrect to say that war or any other violent behavior is genetically programmed into our human nature”. Though this may be a widely accepted idea, it is quite obvious that Glover rejects it. He does not let our species off easily; he specifically says that, “We need to look hard and clearly at some monsters inside us. But this is part of the project of caging

From this data he concluded that they share a similar thinning of hair, lack of strength, and weight, low cranial captivity, receding foreheads, highly developed frontal sinuses, … darker skin, thicker and curly hair, and large or handle-shaped ears (p.86). Law is defined by the social and legal institutions, no in biology (Morley & Hall, 2003). Therefore the attempt to determine what constitutes the act of criminal behavior can cause an variety of activities, this is the reason researches focus on a more broad context of antisocial behavior. Authors Morley and Hall (2003), who have investigated the genetic influences on criminal behavior, point out three different ways to define antisocial behavior. First is equating it with criminality and delinquency, which

It has been argued that if genes influence behaviour and character, and we cannot choose our genes, then our behaviour is outside our control and we are not responsible. However, we take the view that genes are not deterministic, and that there is scope for an

Now that you have recognized an anger style that closely resembles your own method of dealing with anger, answer the following questions:

Physical assault and aggression is the second leading cause of death among 14 to 17 year olds, next to vehicular accidents (Loeber). But why are humans so aggressive in the first place? There are two sides of the debate: Nature, and Nurture. Some say that it’s human nature, genetics that cause most behaviors, while others say that we act as we learned during childhood. This argument applies to aggression as well. Aggression is mainly caused by things during childhood and adolescence where people learn from various sources about aggression, although, human psychology plays a slight factor.

There are clearly no simple genetic or hormonal factors that can explain the variation in aggressive in males and females. Studies of human males suggest that there is at most a small genetic component to aggression, but a greater one for personality traits associated with such behavior. The biological mechanisms translating the message in the genes into antisocial or criminal behavior are not known. Therefore, there is clearly no simple aggressive gene effect. Many genes are likely to be involved, and each may have a weak effect on aggressive behavior. A direct genetic effect on aggression, for example, may determine how quickly an individual responds to aggravation. Aggression may also be influenced indirectly; for example, a man's size and strength may affect the way he behaves and how others react to him. (Turner, 253)

The nature versus nurture debate is an ongoing debate among social scientists relating to whether ones personality/personal characteristics are the result of his/her inherited genetic traits or the result of environmental factors such as upbringing, social status, financial stability, and more. One of the topics that are discussed among psychologists is the study of violent behavior among people as a whole, and in particular, individuals. Social scientists try to explain why people commit acts of violence through explanation of either side of the nature or nurture schools of thought. However, the overwhelming amount of research done into the relation of violent behavior and the nature versus nurture debate indicated that nurture is the primary explanation to explaining violent behavior because violent traits are learned from adults, someone’s social upbringing is a major factor to why some people are more violent than others, and finally influences from news media, movies, and video games enhance the chance for someone to exhibit violent behavior. In conclusion, violent behavior is a complex issue without a clear explanation that is overwhelmingly supported by the nurture side of the debate.