Interesting. Something for me to learn about for sure. I'm skeptical of any study that concludes emotions and behaviors are the direct result of genes. I'm no geneticist nor neuroscientist, but I read a lot of work by neuroscientists who research the role of the environment on genes (epigenetics) and on brain development, and they tend to point out quite simply the ignored variables genetic studies overlook (such as the genetics of addiction being bogus). Maybe it's not the case here. We're off topic, but i love this stuff. Do you think a Mental Health/Psychology thread would be popular?
This is really recent research on psychopathy I'm citing - since 2010. It's changing the face of psychopathy (much of it is centered in California, btw). I think it'd be a good idea to have such a thread. I'm interested. I think I should make it clear that I think the behavior in question isn't directly produced by the genetic issue, but it issues reliably from the genetic issue. It's very hard for me to blame psychopaths for their behavior, in the same ways it's hard for me to blame people on the autism spectrum for not being better at picking up on social cues.
There is overwhelming empirical evidence suggesting that spanking does NOT work and, in fact, has negative long-term consequences for children's development. There are much more effective and non-violent methods of dealing with misbehavior. As someone else said... if you do this against an adult it is considered assault, but it is OK when you do it to your child??? And for those who say "I turned out OK and I was spanked"... you turned out OK in spite of being spanked... not because of it.
