"You inherit your environment just as much as your genes."
Introduction
Nature vs Nurture is a debate that has long persisted in the discussions of psychologists and researchers. The question of, “Was a person born like this or has their upbringing and environment made them who they are?” This question is especially important when discussing the case of criminals: why did they do this? Even if their circumstances influenced this, why did they choose to act the way they did? That is the discussion and the kind of conversation we would like to bring forth here with an influence from our previous discussions about serial killers. Were they born crazy or did they become crazy?
Nature
While it's clear that our genetic makeup plays a role in our mental health, the relationship is influenced by a multitude of factors. These genetic predispositions can manifest as differences in brain chemistry, neurotransmitter function, or brain structure, contributing to vulnerabilities or resilience to mental health challenges.
Research has shown that major mental disorders, which were traditionally thought to be distinct, share certain genetic glitches (NIH). Studies suggest that genes contribute to the risk of developing mental illnesses but do not solely determine it. For instance, investigations have revealed that variations in the COMT gene are linked to a greater likelihood of developing schizophrenia. Further research has discovered a multitude of genes that may contribute to the onset of depression, including the serotonin transporter gene and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene.
Some psychiatric disorders also tend to run in families, suggesting potential genetic roots.The estimated heritability for these disorders is much higher than for diseases like breast cancer and Parkinson's disease. This suggests a strong genetic basis for some mental health conditions - In the case of bipolar disorder, it is estimated that around 70-90% of all cases are attributed to genetic factors. Schizophrenia is thought to have up to 70-80% genetic heritability and similar to bipolar disorder, having a first-degree relative with the disorder drastically increases the risk of developing schizophrenia later in life, though environmental factors are also incredibly important. ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) is a neurodevelopmental disorder usually present from birth. Specific genes have been implicated in ASD suggesting abnormal synaptic and neural network development.
Nurture
Nurture is the other half of the coin. While nature discusses genetic makeup and preexistent traits, nurture dives into the influence of an individual’s environment on their thought processes and their actions. Childhood experiences, family dynamics, trauma, social interactions, and cultural influences all contribute to the formation of personality traits, coping mechanisms, and mental health outcomes. We can take an example of 2 families - one is extremely conservative and protective in their upbringing and the other is extremely lenient and easy-going in how they bring up their child. In the future, these influences can change how they would approach the same situation - perhaps the first individual would be more reserved and cautious while the other would be more open to take risks and reckless in their attitude.
That is exactly why discussing the upbringing of serial killers is vital to analysing and coming to conclusions about their psychology and mental processes. Some serial killers develop a fascination with death or killing through their experiences and some are born with this or a specific mental state that encourages this fascination. If we take the example of H.H. Holmes, who we spoke about earlier on the blog, we can understand that his fascination seemed to have been prompted by the encounter of having a skeleton’s hands placed on his face in order to scare him. It grew from there, manifesting into him dissecting animals and eventually pursuing medicine.
The Interplay - Complexities of Nature and Nurture
Nature and nurture are typically co-existent when discussing what influences human beings’ personality, thought processes and the way they approach situations. While your experiences do determine how you might approach some kind of situation, your innate traits are also a major influence. If we take the same example as before with 2 families who brought their children up in opposite ways, there could be a difference in how they approach situations according to their inherent mental processes. Perhaps, even if an individual was born into a very lenient, easy-going family that permitted and encouraged taking risks and putting yourself out there, the individual could still grow up to be a constrained and careful individual. Nature and nurture constantly influence each other which makes the discussion of nature vs. nurture even more complicated - it cannot be nature OR nurture, it must be nature AND nurture.
Recent Research
Epigenetics and neuroplasticity are two promising fields that significantly contribute to the understanding of how genes may affect mental health. These areas of research offer insights into the dynamic nature of the brain and how our environment and behaviours can influence our genetic predispositions.
Epigenetics refers to the study of changes in organism function that do not involve alterations in the DNA sequence. These changes can be brought about by various factors such as lifestyle, environment, and experiences. This means that even if an individual has a genetic predisposition to a certain mental illness, environmental interventions could potentially modify gene expression to decrease the risk or severity of the condition.
Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. This ability allows the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain to compensate for injury and disease and to adjust their activities in response to new situations or changes in their environment. In terms of mental health, this suggests that therapeutic interventions, such as cognitive behavioural therapy or mindfulness practices can effectively 'rewire' the brain to promote positive mental health outcomes, even in individuals who may be genetically predisposed to certain conditions.
In terms of research, these fields encourage a more holistic approach, examining not just the genetic codes but also how genes can be turned on or off by external factors or internal changes. This could lead to more personalised medicine, where treatments are tailored to the individual not only based on their genetic makeup but also on their life experiences and
Conclusion
In conclusion, the age-old question of whether mental illness is a product of nature or nurture does not have a straightforward answer. Current research suggests that both genetic and environmental factors play critical roles in the development of mental health disorders. Genetics can predispose individuals to certain conditions, indicating a "born with" aspect to mental health. However, environmental influences, life experiences, and personal choices undeniably shape the manifestation and progression of these conditions, supporting the "become" perspective.
We've seen that mental health is not a binary state of being 'crazy' or 'normal', but rather a continuum where multiple factors intersect to influence our psychological well-being. It's also important to acknowledge that the language around mental health is evolving, and terms like 'crazy' are not only inaccurate but can also be offensive and stigmatising. Instead, we should focus on understanding the complexities of mental health and strive to create supportive environments that promote mental wellness for all.
PS: Analysing traits of prominent serial killers
Night Stalker
Richard Ramirez, aka The Night Stalker, was a serial killer who terrorised the state of California for 14 months from June 1984 to August 1985. He was finally captured and imprisoned for thirteen counts of murder, five attempted murders, eleven sexual assaults and fourteen burglaries. Ramirez typically killed to rob people’s houses and used extreme brute force to kill them. He typically killed people in their sleep, earning him the title ‘Night Stalker’ and on various occasions, he also raped his victims.
He said, “A serial killer comes about in his circumstances, like a recipe – poverty, drugs, child abuse. These things contribute to a person's frustration and anger and at some point in life, he explodes.” This explains that Ramirez himself believed that he was not born ‘crazy’ and it was something that happened gradually over his lifetime, with influences from his environment. Ramirez' crimes are also said to have been heavily influenced by a troubled childhood. He was abused by his father frequently and eventually began developing “horrid and macabre interests” in his early and mid-teens. This development was also accelerated by an older cousin who taught him military skills that he even made use of during his killing spree.
Additionally, psychiatrist Michael Stone describes Ramirez as a "made" psychopath as opposed to a "born" psychopath. Ramirez had schizoid personality disorder, and, as a result of this, he was indifferent to the suffering of his victims and was untreatable. A few times before Ramirez was six years old, Stone reported, he was knocked unconscious and almost died, and because of this "later developed temporal lobe epilepsy, aggression, and hypersexuality."
This is an example of nurture and life experiences creating a serial killer rather than innate factors influencing his actions.
John Wayne Gacy
John Wayne Gacy, known as the "Killer Clown," tortured, raped, and strangled 33 young men between 1972 and his arrest in 1978. He buried 29 of his victims in a crawl space under his house. He exhibited psychological traits consistent with antisocial personality disorder, characterised by a lack of empathy, deceitfulness, and a disregard for the rights of others.
Gacy was not legally insane -- he knew his violent actions were fatal and condemned by law and society, and he never reported demons overtaking his will and demanding that he kill. He understood rules and norms; he was simply unwilling to obey them if they stood in the way of his satisfaction. Throughout his life, he showed the capacity to orient himself to reality: he could episodically succeed at school, work and even marriage. On the other hand, he did not kill out of any sense of revenge or purpose, but simply because he wanted to, exhibiting "motiveless malignancy."
From a natural perspective, some might argue that Gacy had innate predispositions towards psychopathy, evidenced by his charm and manipulative skills, which he used to gain the trust of his victims before committing his heinous crimes. However, the nurture aspect is also prominent in Gacy's life. He experienced a troubled childhood with a physically abusive father, which could have contributed to his warped perception of relationships and violence. His father's abuse would have nurtured feelings of anger and worthlessness, potentially leading to his violent outbursts and criminal behaviour.
In conclusion, while Gacy's genetic makeup may have predisposed him to certain psychological traits, his upbringing and life experiences likely played a significant role in the manifestation of his violent and criminal actions.
Ted Bundy
One of the most infamous serial killers of all time is none other than Ted Bundy. Between 1974 and 1978, he is suspected to have kidnapped, raped and murdered dozens of women. While he, after nearly a decade of denials, was incarcerated in 1975 for 20 murders, he confessed to 30 and is suspected to have committed 36+. In January 1989, he was executed in the electric chair.
Psychologists have often provided 3 cases of impactful events in Bundy’s life that could have influenced his killing tendencies:
Unresolved anger from his childhood: As a child, he was teased for having a speech impediment but also grew up believing that his grandparents were his biological parents while his mother was his older sister. Only later in his life did he find out that his ‘sister’ was actually his mother and that his biological father was unknown. Apparently, this was revealed when someone showed him his birth certificate. Naturally, this could’ve caused anger that he was lied to and that no one knew who his father was.
He sought revenge on his first girlfriend: Bundy dated his first girlfriend, Diane Edwards, in university. He constantly felt insecure because he couldn’t live up to her expectations in the relationship and felt that she was out of his league. When she broke up with him, he said had a desire to get “some sort of revenge” on her. Psychologists also speculate that this was a cause for his killings because almost all of Bundy’s victims resembled her.
Addiction to violent porn: Bundy claimed that his porn use started normally and then escalated into the extreme, eventually getting to a point where he wanted to act out his fantasies."I would keep looking for more potent, more explicit, more graphic kinds of material. Like an addiction, you keep craving something which is harder, harder, something which gives you a greater sense of excitement. Until you reach the point that pornography only goes so far" But, people are sceptical of this theory due to him offering this information only a few days before his execution.
The issue that has been found with all of these theories is that the same situations could have happened to other people but they did not turn to killing. These instances did not seem like enough of a reason to turn to killing, especially to the degree to which Bundy did. Bundy was diagnosed by different psychiatrists with different disorders: one made a diagnosis of Bipolar disorder but changed her mind multiple times, and one of these times her diagnosis was of a multiple personality disorder; most of the evidence, including his result on the Psychopathy Checklist–revised (PCL-R) coming to a 39/40, had pointed towards an antisocial personality disorder (ASPD); yet another diagnosis was of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). There is no concrete information of whether Ted Bundy possessed any of the above listed diagnoses, but we can recognise that it wasn’t purely his surroundings that inspired his actions.
Jeffrey Dahmer
Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer, also known as the Milwaukee Cannibal or the Milwaukee Monster, was an American serial killer and sex offender who killed and dismembered seventeen males between 1978 and 1991.
Dahmer had been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and Schizotypal
Personality Disorder, two conditions that could significantly hinder his relationship with others.
Borderline Personality Disorder: BPD is a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image and emotions that leads to intense episodes of anger, depression and anxiety that last from hours to days; individuals suffering from BPD often struggle with maintaining stable relationships – possibly contributing to Dahmer’s feelings of isolation and fear of abandonment which led him to seek control over his victims to prevent perceived rejection from others.
Schizotypal Personality Disorder: This mental condition is characterised by intense social anxiety, thought disorders, paranoid ideation, derealization, transient psychosis and often unconventional beliefs. Dahmer may have suffered from this disorder which would explain many of his unusual behaviours and beliefs including his fascination with dead animals as well as attempts to create lifeless companions from his victims.
Substance Abuse: Dahmer was known to engage in heavy drinking, which may have contributed to his mental health issues and led him down an unpredictable path of violence and mayhem. Alcohol can lower self-control and impair judgement – potentially making it easier for Dahmer to act on impulses that arise within him.
Dahmer’s early life and development brought out the value of early intervention. His case highlighted the lack of available support systems for individuals suffering from severe mental health conditions. It forced society to face difficult questions about evil, human cruelty, and mental illness in general.