Leia+Brewer

Psychopaths: An adaptive trait? Post #1, completed on December 27th  Evolution category Posted January 16th

 In a perfect world, everyone is compassionate, loving, intelligent, and generous. As a society, we try to mold our youth in to these clever, understanding people that we so desire to produce. So, how is it that we aren't succeeding? Could it be that we’re moving in the wrong direction, and that Mother Nature is actually moving in the opposite direction? According to Damn Interesting.com, we may be doing just that. Within the article The Unburdened Mind, a one sentence hypothesis is made, stating that it’s possible psychopathy is an adaptive trait, rather than a disorder or genetic allele.

Who is classified as a psychopath? 

 Within the article, psychopaths are described as charming, intelligent, and seemingly positive people. They easily feign normal attributes such as remorse and kindness, but in reality, lack a conscience altogether. They are portrayed as pathological liars, often referring to rationality to over-compensate for their deception. The idea that psychopathy is an adapted trait came from the evidence showing that psychopaths have a higher success rate within society’s bounds (it should be noted, however, that those who turn to violence and crime are usually psychopaths that are not able to succeed in life). These people move on to become lawyers, businessmen and women, as well as folk of importance, such as politicians and law enforcement officers. They aren't deterred by risks and failure, but instead thrive on it, giving them further motive for their goals.

Examples? 

 A notable example included is that of Hannibal Lecter, a fictional cannibal from the novel Red Dragon and the movie series under the name of Silence of the Lambs. We are told in Lecter’s case, the psychopathy has little or nothing to do with his sadism and violent tendencies as is assumed, but rather connects only to his lack of empathy towards his victims. Psychopathy is developed within” a civilization made up primarily of law-abiding citizenry… (Where) an evolutionary niche opens up for a minority who would exploit the trusting masses.

What do you mean, trusting masses? Like the general public? Work world? 

 Unburdened argues that psychopathic traits are actually prefered in the working world, and that this is one of the main reasons these traits are becoming more and more prevalent. If psychopath describes someone who lives without empathy or consience, then society is, in a sense, breeding disaster. The traits so sought after by employers include things such as dominance, self-centeredness and charisma are normally correlated to psychopathy, making it very hard to dismiss the fact that we are evolving into the very people we try to disband.

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 For some reason, no matter how hard I look, it’s impossible to find a video that corresponds with  “Psychopaths and evolution”, so instead I’m going to include a video that states what psychopaths are, so you can determine for yourself whether society is breeding these types of people or not.

So, who’s fault is this really? <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Summary: We’re living in a society of psychopaths, and we don’t realise it! Every 1/100th person is a clinical psychopath, whereas every 1 in two people develop psychopathic tendencies. These numbers have multiplied multiple times throughout the path 200 years. Coincidence? I think not.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Links to other interesting pages:

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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Original article: <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"> [|http://www.damninteresting.com/the-unburdened-mind/#more-936]

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Pictures:

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">http://www.troll.me/2011/07/07/crazy-wombat/crazy-wombat-says-society-is-to-blame/

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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Post #2 Completed January 1st, posted January 17th

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"> Reproductive System Category <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"> Doctors discover fully formed female reproductive system inside the abdomen of an Indian man.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"> We hear about oddities within the human body all the time. A missing pancreas in a fully functional adult, two sets of the same organs inside the body… But another set of sex organs, formed inside the body? An Indian man was admitted into the hospital for stomach pains during the later months of 2011, and was shocked to find out that in addition to a hernia, he also had a set of f partially formed ovaries inside his abdomen. Doctors were able to successfully remove both the hernia and female reproductive organs, but it left them wondering “How?”

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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"> Ryalu, the man involved, was fully fit and healthy at the time, and had no knowledge of the condition of his innards. With a fully function male reproductive system and hormones to suggest the appropriate gender, there was no evidence to suggest any type of malformation inside his body. As is noted, Ryalu is technically classified as a hermaphrodite, and had to receive a full hysterectomy to remove the female organs. They, while infertile, posed no immediate danger to the man’s well being.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">As a quick summary of Hermaphroditism, here’s a video giving you the ins and outs of the subject, and what it means, exactly.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">media type="youtube" key="ukUueYOpVss" height="315" width="560"

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Although Ryalu’s second set of reproductive organs weren't functional, there are many cases in which they are. Hermaphroditism is far from uncommon, and is often celebrated as “a gift from God” in most cultures.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">In Roman culture, there is an actual god of Hermaphroditism, Hermaphroditos

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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Those born as hermaphrodites may choose to either remove or embrace their extra set of reproductive organs, but in most cases, the person has the hormone sequence for one gender only. Usually, this is the gender they identify with, but it is possible that they may wish to remove the functional set of sex organs in favor of the other.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">This diagram depicts the physical differences between the genitalia of a male, hermaphrodite, and female bodies.

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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">From a scientific point of view, Hermaphroditism is NOT caused by a mutation of sex organs. It is instead caused by a mutation of genes during their nine months in the womb. Wikipedia tells us that this is caused because of “is a [|parthenogenetic] division of a haploid ovum into two haploid ova”, meaning that instead of diving sex organs into one gender or the other, both are represented in the egg.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Hermaphrodites, or “intersex” persons are typically born with a penis, but also possess ovarian tissue, one of which will be in complete working order (in most cases).

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Summary: Hermaphroditism is a condition where a person is born with both sexual organs, but only one set of corresponding hormones, making them either biologically male or female.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Articles used:

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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">[|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermaphroditism#Humans]

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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Photos:

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S007021530800402X

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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Other interesting articles:

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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Post #3 Completed January 1st, Posted January 17th

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"> Genetics Category

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"> Genetic connection to migraines

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"> It’s been a known factor how women are more susceptible to migraines than men for years. But how exactly is that possible? Does it have something to do with genetics? Scientists have recently found a risk factor having to do with genetics that may prove just that. According to Nature Genetics, those who experience changes in the brain with glutamate, a chemical acid, are much more likely to suffer migraines than those that do not.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">During a test on more than 50000 Europeans, it was found that people with a variation on chromosome eight between the genes of PGCP and MTDH/AEG-1, depicted in the graph below.

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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Because of the research conducted by these tests, scientists were able to create a better understanding of migraines, and possible treatments for them. It was previously thought that migraines were caused by genetic mutations were rare, and in most cases, extreme, but it is now known that mutations generally lead to more common forms of migraines.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Essentially, migraines are severe and painful headaches that may or may not be accompanied by flashed of light, blind spots, dizziness, or nausea and vomiting. They result from “vessel enlargement” and chemical release in the brain. This increases pressure on the left side of the brain, causing pain.

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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">As a quick summary, and to show the differences between a headache and a migraine, here’s a quick video.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">media type="youtube" key="yL22X5opGhY" height="315" width="560"

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">According to [|www.webmd.com], a newly discovered risk factor was found for the common migraine called rs1835740. This variation is stronger in those who experience visual stimulation in addition to their migraine. It disrupts the brain’s ability to remove glutamate from its nerve connectors. In addition to this, is also disrupts the activity of a gene called EAAT2 (Excitatory amino-acid transporter), which has been linked to disorders like epilepsy.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Apparently, this is generally what the EAAT2 is supposed to look like.

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<span style="font-family: Arial Black,Gadget,sans-serif;">Also discovered during these tests was there may be a possible link between glutamate buildup and the extreme nature of the migraine. Until now, this hadn't been suggested, or proven in any other conducted tests.

<span style="font-family: Arial Black,Gadget,sans-serif;">Fun fact: Nearly 30 million Americans (I couldn't find Canadian stats) live with migraines, and women experience them three times more than men.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Summary: Glutamate build up may lead to migraine development, as was discovered by a team of international scientists.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Here’s a general diagram showing the different stages of migraines.

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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Articles used:

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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">Interesting articles:

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