Psychopaths can be both born and created. Chemicals in the brain can be unbalanced from birth and can be brought out by the environment someone is raised in. Even in the tightly bound nature of the young developing mind, supposing that infants can choose between good and evil, along with adults, might not be that crazy after all because babies have proven they can choose between good and bad by participating in multiple experiments using puppets and other child appealing toys.
In the capacity of the mind of a baby, scientists have used toys in experiments to record data of a baby’s thoughts of good or evil. Babies interpret things differently than those of adults, teens and even toddlers. Babies interpret the motivation of others based on movements and the intentions they sense and pick up on. Scientists use puppets and toys to create different scenarios to perform to babies, along the lines of good toy, bad toy. These different variations of experiments help show scientists the narrow-minded nature of the developing minds of infants. Stafford says, “even the youngest humans have at least some sense of right and wrong…an instinct to prefer good over evil” (Stafford). Leading into the results of the experiment, almost after every experiment performed with infants, they almost all chose the good toy as opposed to the bad toy.
Adults can grow up also being able to choose between good and evil, in the sense that based on the way they are born and raised some might choose good in some situations and some might choose bad in others. In that, “the brains of psychopaths exhibit little empathy or desire to do anything that does not benefit themselves” (Smithstein). The amygdala is the part of the brain that is affected in the brain of the psychopath that affects a person’s emotions and decision making. On the opposite side of the spectrum, altruistic usually means a person that shows selfless concern for the well being of others. An altruistic person has a significantly larger amygdala than a person who makes poor decisions and lacks emotions. The way that some are raised also positively or negatively affects the decision making process. In the beginning, “we are all born to a greater or lesser degree, hardwired to be kind to others…some of our goodness is what we are born with” (Smithstein).
To wrap up, we are all born with a sense of good and a sense of bad, with the option to choose. Although making poor decisions and lacking emotion is part of a physical condition of the brain, for the most part psychopaths are made and corrupted by society. Infants being used to perform experiments can prove that people are born good and with stable decision making skills. The way that people are raised and the morals that they are taught and the ones they are not taught make up a person who can make decisions, good or bad.
Works Cited
Smithstein , Samantha. “Are We Born Good or Evil?” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/what-the-wild-things-are/201409/are-we-born-good-or-evil
Stafford , Tom. “Are We Naturally Good or Bad?” BBC Future, BBC, https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20130114-are-we-naturally-good-or-bad.
Dear Leigh Ann,
In your post, ” Psychopaths,” I learned that kids in a bad environment mindset is really different and even the difference in toys can change them so much. young kids don’t even know from right from wrong. the lack of emotions of parents .how their decisions don’t really make a difference in their minds.
What i think about this is really interesting because it how scientists are figuring out how psychopaths minds work and how much things cause them to be the way they are.
Dear Leigh Ann,
i am impressed by you post, ” Psychopaths” because it really talking about the kids mind works. I think the information explaining how it works on choosing bad and good.
One sentence you wrote that stands out for me is : ” grow up also being able to choose between good and evil, in the sense that based on the way they are born and raised some might choose good in some situations and some might choose bad in others” . i think this is awesome to hear that their more information on people minds.
Thanks for the writing you did . im looking forward the next writing and like to see what other information you can write about .
Hi Leigh Ann,
I liked your overview of the information. I learned a lot about development and psychology, the ideas you presented related to each other intelligibly, and you cited information really well. I think some words, like “In the capacity of the mind of a” or “To wrap up” could have been cut down, but over all this was great writing and I look forward to reading more from you.
Great job,
Charlie
Dear Leigh Ann,
I am intrigued by your post, ¨psychopaths¨ because it really explains how yes people can be born with the ¨psyco genes¨ but it more so depends on a persons life that can make them a psychopath.
One things that you said that really stands out to me is, ¨Psychopaths can be both born and created. Chemicals in the brain can be unbalanced from birth and can be brought out by the environment someone is raised in¨ this stood out to me because it explains how psychopaths are really made. Another things that stood out to me was when you said how babies are capable of knowing between right and wrong.
Thank you for writing about this, I look forward to seeing what you write in the future. the human brain and how we as people work is very intresting to learn about.
-Nichole