Homosexual activists understand the power of words.
Please visit my channel to watch a one-minute video clip in which popular atheist author Richard Dawkins admits that homosexual activists "hijacked the word 'gay'".
The word "homosexual" is more appropriate and accurate because it, unlike the word "gay", actually describes the behavior/attraction/relationship being discussed.
The word "gay" helps homosexual activists push their agenda.
What is the base rate for the characteristics you've found in serial killer brains? If your OWN brain looks like that of a serial killer, why doesn't that invalidate your theory? What is the sensitivity and specificity of your ability to detect a serial killer based on their brain type? Can you please send me any papers you have that has this information? Thanks . . .
Searched google, and found this video at the TED website. Awesome information. This will give the corrections system in the United States pause for thought.
Mr. Fallon's presentation was very general and conjectural. However there are some scientists, such as Dr. David Comings, who have been making more intensive quantitative studies. Comings has found some evidence that links violent behavior with a series of dysfunctions associated with the same genetic inheritance that leads to Tourette's Syndrome in some individuals. It does have to do with serotonin/dopamine imbalances. Comings and others are trying to put these studies on a firmer footing.
To say murder is connected to brain structure is an unforgivable sin. Science is not in support of such Bull-crap. If anyone responds to this comment, give me substance.
Any thought or feeling that leads to any action is directly related to the brain, but that certainly doesn't mean that you can scan a brain and say "this person will definitely commit murder" is quite absurd, especially if said person has no history of violence or anything. For the same reason that being psychotic doesn't necessarily make a person dangerous. I would therefore tend to agree with your point.
I would also like to make the point that just because there is no definitive link between brain structure, brain chemistry, brain damage et cetera, it does not mean that these factors are irrelevant. Statistically there may be a link, although how useful that information really is in a fair society is currently debatable it may well find a very positive and useful application in the future - only further study and research can answer that question though.
@the7thwreck I quite agree, although as I said before, structural or chemical anomalies to the brain may have an effect on the way people behave, but I don't think a strong case can be made for determining criminality based on the science of the brain, I think it's much more likely a product of social upbringing and such :)
Give over, they'd probably find it interesting checking out their brain scans, it's hardly like he was running drug trials on them. And he wasn't treating or diagnosing them as their physician/psychiatrist he was scanning them for part of a research project.
The implications only become staggering once you put the knowledge to some use, at the moment it's entirely academic; understanding the link could be used to help repeat offenders be rehabilitated as they may have different requirements than ordinary people, it doesn't inherently mean that we should impose some Orwellian segregation on innocent people, that's a little melodramatic.
Hi, Dr. Fallon! I have watched the A&E biographies of some of these serial killers. I don't remember many 3D violent traumas in their early youth. Could you provide some examples?
his point is that the mind of a serial killer is cultivated from a very precise amount of events strung together. like an alphabet soup; serial soup. those with violent 3D traumas have a tendency to become killers, but likewise also have the capacity to grow from it. that's when BE brain damage and genes come in. if for example you have a character like lizzie borden in your family, you would be more likely to kill and even more likely if suffered through a traumatic event. hope this helps :)
I want you to take a look at the studies in the following Serotonin (is a monoamine neurotransmitter) In the ultimatum game, participants whose serotonin levels have been artificially lowered will reject unfair offers more often than players with normal serotonin levels, this is like a :Monoamine receptor tree, it makes sence to know where the BAD NEWS IS I was involved with someone whom straight Genological Tree of well known NAZI and trust me his levels of Narcisim high
oh wow that's very neat. yes i agree that it's important to know your family's personal psychological history to better understand how future generations will be.
Have you ever read the Japanese graphic novel (manga) called Monster? It's about a young serial killer, the very origin of his psychopathy is caused by a Neurologist. I think the scientific information shown in this story is correct. But it suggests that the root of the killer's psychopathy is his sister's pain. All his life he falsely believed that his twin sister's experience was his own. It's strange because then compassion is what originally made this child a psychopath. What do you think?
Jim Fallon here. Tomorrow night, Wednesday, November 18th at nine PM on CBS, there will be an episode of Criminal Minds that is based, in part, on this TED talk. In the episode, I play myself giving a focussed lecture on transgenerational, sex-linked, violence and its relationship to continued violence in war torn regions of the world. The executive producer/writer Simon Mirren did a fantastic job of capturing the core theory in an excellent dramatic crime show episode. May be worth a look-see.
@DrJamesFallon Saw your CNN interview tonight (July 5). Is this interview on-line for people who cannot afford cable, like my mom who is a full-time student. Was interested in tonight's interview because I've been studying sociopaths since I was dumped by one recently.
I can't believe they still list Charles Manson as a serial killer, when he wasn't even there when the murders happened. He never killed a person in his life and the whole case was a big show. This is far from scientific.
This is still an open question concerning Manson. If you conclude that he masterminded a series of nine murders, then there is good reason to conclude that the he used those kids as the murder weapons, and that he was indeed a serial killer. But as you infer, this is not the usual meaning of serial killer. There is a nexus of the law, psychpathology, and common meaning here, and there are no bright lines separating these three domains.
have you see the brains of "successful" psychopaths? The ones who lead some organizations, the kind Robert Hare wrote about? Are their brains the same as those of killer psycos?
anvarts - I think you are referring to sociopaths, rather than psychopaths. They tend to be the ones, talked about in studies, who prosper in environments which reward manouvering and selective empathy.
There might be a similar gene in dogs. Why do some dogs (even entire breeds) become shy and cowardice when they are physically abused and others become vicious?
Humans have selectively bred dogs for many thousands of years for specific purposes, in an attempt to amplify those wolf behaviors desired for varied human purposes. But some other changes occur remarkably quickly in canines. In a study done in Russia on wild foxes in the 1950s, it was found that after only a couple of generations the foxes become docile, friendly to humans, and even take on new coloration patterns much like domesticated dogs.
In my experience, new color patterns and even new traits can be obtained by inbreeding, which I am totally against, and any somewhat intelligent animal will be extremely docile if s/he never experiences inflicted pain. I suppose humans are just the same, no? :)
Absolutely, no doubt about it whatsoever. If something injured us and we felt no pain, we would not try to get away. We would most likely be eaten alive or fatally wounded. Also, if we felt no pain, we would not learn to avoid whatever it is that injured us and would be injured repeatedly over time. Pain keeps us alive (us in the general sense, meaning most living beings). If there were no pain, there would be no fear. Without fear, there would be no self-preservation.
Exploring is part of growing up. A lion cub will come across a porcupine and learn that if he messes with the porcupine, he will feel a lot of pain. He will learn that if an adult lion growls, hed better play somewhere else or his ear is going to be bitten (hard enough to cause some pain but not enough to cause injury). If you pay attention, all animals warn before they take action. Horses will turn back their ears flat against their neck. Mammals with horns will lower their head, etc.
Cats will hiss. Dogs will growl. Snakes will curl up and raise their heads, etc.
So in the animal kingdom, baby animals are given a choice: continue and get (lightly) punished or do something else. These punishments do not cause trauma because the animals see it coming. Trust is not broken. The animal fully understands why s/he was punished.
Pain caused by accidents or disease also does not cause personality changes. Your cat or dog is never going to become aggressive if you accidentally step on its paw or tail, even if it happens more than once. Why? Because you will react in a way that the animal will know it was an accident. You will probably pick it up and kiss it and say youre sorry. Eventually the animal will learn not to sit behind you when you are cooking or doing the dishes.
This is all very different from an animal (or person) who suffers pain they cannot avoid, get away from or understand. Eventually, people (or animals) who have to endure this kind of pain will become aggressive or shy, simply to preserve themselves. Once they (both animals and humans) learn to distrust humans, it is very hard and sometimes impossible to win back their trust. There is a fabulous speech by Camila Batmanghelidjh here in YouTube on the Authors at Google channel. It is a must-see.
Thanks for the tip on watching Camila Batmanghelidjh. I read about her life and work and it is impressive. I couldn't find any outcome data on her approach with these kids, though. It sounds like it could work, but does it?
I have read about killers for years, along with other criminals and i find the entire subject fascinating. Is it a social effect or a genetic one? Is it a predisposition genetically that can be countered with social effects on a person or is something else going on? Why is it that most men are the serial killer types? Here we are finding some answers.
The entire subject is fascinating and i thank Jim Fallon for this talk.
ComeWalk, UFOs and ghost hunting are other examples of pseudo scientific topics, so it seems as if you did compare this talk to those topics. If you meant something else, you might want to explain in more detail.
When the real Jimmy Fallon started his rise to fame, I used to get emails from...uh...coeds. To stem the flow of these errant communiques I morphed his head and face with my hair and beard in a return email to them. I never heard from them again.
He's so entrenched within his own matrix, looking for anomalies, that he misses out the entire human history.
How many people did the american army killed in Iraq, in their war of "freedom" ? while looking for weapons of mass destruction, that were never there, they caused the mass destruction of the entire nation. twice. And about every decade really.
is this sort of empiricism not psychopathy?
what about dropping an Atmoic bomb, killing more than 250,000 civilians?
War is the collective effort to destroy another collective of humans, thus constituting Mass-Murder. The only reason for so call morally "justified" wars is the inability of the individuals to wake up, think for them selves and drop their weapons in refusal.
"Traitors" I remind you are killed on the spot ,by the already mobilized and brain washed amalgamated Military.
so that the real psychopathy is the ease of which such a wave of social manipulation is even possible.
Even when fighting for resources (out of greed, not necessity) the destruction of the target group's cohesion is the main aim. Iraq with no stable democracy is an iraq with lots of oil not in the hands of the people...thus the interests to sustain the war. Like in Vietnam, like the war of "terror".
Also wars are very profitable to those making the wars, ie the militray industrial complex. (which JFK talked about a week before he got shot)
What do you think of Gandhi's hierarchy of protest, resistance, and war? He felt that the option of war was actually better than the simple laying down of arms pure pacifism).
Not only did he not give any definition for psychopaths, he completely disregarded the fact that most death by human hands occurs through the armed forces of the military (and police)
These death are not only viewed as mentally balanced, but encouraged with medal, patriotism and governmental paychecks.
i think that in the case of the soldier he is willing to commit these crimes out of ignorance as for the banksters they are trying to increase the scope of their power by starting wars like the above mentioned, psychopaths kill because the actual act of killing gives them pleasure, i believe that is the distinction you are looking for
Many psychopaths say they kill not for pleasure but the urge is so overwhelming. When there is brain damage involved to the inferior prefrontal cortex (medial orbital cortex and medial prefrontal cortex) Some of this depends on WHEN the damage occurs.
To continue, when the damage is early let's say during the first 3 years of life, the adult psychopath may not really know what they are doing is wrong. If the damage is later, let's say 7-12, he may know it is wrong but feels overwhelmingly driven to carry out a violent act. Think of it as a fundamental drive like the need to take a leak. You can hold it back for a while, but the outcome is inevitable.
To finish the thought, one question is when the brain damage is later in adolescence or adulthood. This person, who knows what they're doing is wrong and may even be capable of inhibiting the urge (so called free will), may be significantly more culpable than the other two, no?
The very concept of guilt in modernity has been mutated to serve the system. I never quite understood why if some1 kills under the influence of mind altering substances then he's guilt with no mitigating circumstances, yet if he is psychiatrcally approved "nut" then it's okay.
If the basic premise is to punish to excommunicate socially deletrious individuals, then the likelhhod of repeating the offense should be the basic argument.
Not seeking the approval of the high priest of current times.
I think what happens here is this: drugged people can be "taught" not to murder again by being locked up in prison for years (or for life, as an example for other would-be killers).
Now, psychiatrically sick people usually benefit more from medical treatment. It's not useful to lock away somebody unstable, it may just worsen the case! So, the key is treating his disease, so he won't be murdering again.
After all, the whole concept of judicial punishment is to prevent bad things from happening.
first of all, correctional facilities don't even attempy correction. they practice punishment and excommunication, nothing else. secondly, someone who has a reoccuring disease that makes him murder peopel is much MORE dangerous to society than someone who was under the influence of narcotics and not behaving in his usual pattern.
Your argument is not even propaganda, it's political self justification.
if you want to prevent things, go talk to the prisoners. study. no one does that. guess y.
I have to disagree. The judicial system is to judge, normally to punish for crimes. If all we were worried about was preventing bad things why not lock everyone up?
Just because someone in a product of their envierment should not exclude them from punishment for breaking the rules put in place by that society. While Christian morals are crap, there is an element of justice that is state operated controlled and moderated vengance, and I'm not convinced that's a bad thing.
I understand what you mean and you make a point, but the differentating factor is choice. You choose to take drugs or alcohol but you do not choose to be insain, you just are.
that's stupid. either you choose EVERYTHING in your life, including getting to an argument with a violent murderer, or you don't.
If one has a history of sexual abuse wthin the family and a history of being prone to addicting substances, than it's not anymore of a choice than being born with a genetic predisposition to become "insain".
not to mention, that Insanity is just a big magic word that means "not like the norm set by the priests". it does not mean violence or even negative to society.
The way that I explained myself was very 'Black and white', and i guess that I could have went into more detail. I was refering to someone under the influence of mind altering drugs. You choose to take these drugs so whatever you do under the influence, you are accountable for. That is not to say that people with mental conditions that lead to violence have a definitive excuse, but it is taken into account. (and I disagree with the methods that mental institutions treat patients)
And i never said that having a different mind set from whatever is classified from the norm is bad. (One cound go into metaphysics about the 'your reality is not the same as mine as far as we know', but i'll just leave it at that)
Insane means a person cannot cope with the environment or other people in a way most of us can. It's just an umbrella term for lots of psychiatric disorders.
Wth are you on about? No one's calling hippies insane unless just to show his disapproval. I was talking about the state or real insanity, when you're just not able to cope with the world. A kind of mental disorder
His theory explains the question posed by Steven Pinker in earlier TED talk (A brief history of violence). Steven Pinker noted that historically violence decrease exponentially. It seems that Jim Fallons gene concentration theory implies a feedback loop. And feedback loop can explain why the violence decline is exponential.
Exciting news.What abt children who inherit the depression gene from their parents??Any news on this??This is a much more common problem and it will be helpful for us to understand how to cope.
We are studying the presence of potential "depression genes". As with all genetically impacted neurological disorders, it is difficult to point out a statistically significant ONE gene that is responsible. There seems to be a complex interaction of several (even many) gene variants and all the combinations lead one to view all of these disorders (eg schizophrenia, major depression, etc) as a genetic spectrum, ie, no two are identical. Even identical twins are NOT genetically identical.
Some people may have a murder gene, others probably have a pedophilic gene, others a masochistic gene, others a narcisstic gene, and the list goes on and on and.....
The answer is the same as always; we erect laws to protect people's privacy and do nothing to those at risk.
I am wondering if the use of drugs during pregnancy(antidepressants or even caffeine) that increase serotonin levels in the brain could increase the chances of the baby becoming a killer?
If that would be the case, we would have been running out of killing machines (governmental or private).
Put in a different way, if it would be the case we would be able to suppress genetic anomalies by drugs.
The why we can't has more to do with the troubling side effects of breaking down the serotonin. If broken down, your whole diet should be geared towards this to prevent an accidental "overdose" on tyramine.
so doc since you gave this talk in Israel, did you tell them anything about the violence in the their army? or was it all about those violent psychopathic kids with rocks?
So Doc, when you eventually find the sibling in your own family who carries this "psychopathic" gene, what will you do with them? Pump them full of drugs or euthanize them?
Or is this just another way to promote eugenics in war torn developing countries.
Don't get me wrong, good empirical research but it could be used for evil purposes. Sterilization, forced abortions, eugenics etc.
The best option would be to pump them full of love.
The idea for war torn countries is not eugenics but to determine if such genetic drift is occurring, and use this scientific knowledge to convince countries not to oppress others, specifically not to foment discord that leads to street violence, etc since the effects would last centuries, well beyond the proximal political causes, and ultimately lead to the demise of the oppressors. Self preservation to motivate an end to the madness.
Wel Doc, I am glad you post here, and I am glad this is how you see it...I definitively agree with your point of view, but I am afraid the research itself is not bound to an ideal. I am curious do you yourself have control over the use of the research? I am afraid I dont trust our society with all the wonderful things that keep being discovered
If only politicians would embrace such humanitarian ideologies that involved long-term outlooks.Unfortunately, foreign policy is based on corporate interests, geo-strategic positioning to expand hegemonic power and domination of natural resources. War is the tool, violence and death are acceptable Malthusian consequences. If we had more scientists like you in politics, the world would be a better place. Wonder if the political environment in Washington triggers some sort of moral "sell-out" gene
More studies need to be done on how VOLITION affects biology. We know it does. The so-called 'hysterical pregnancy' is a famous example. So maybe the answer isn't to claim that we are hard-wired (even though there may be some truth in that) -- but that what makes the psychopathy come alive, is volition.
Surely after all these centuries the entire population has 'some' of the killer gene in it. So volition must account for the fact only a small % of people, become murderers, etc.
Volition, or will is tough to define and quantify. Volition may be an illusion of choice, that is, one already makes one mind up, and then, post hoc, fabricates a sense of volition as if they were in control of the decision to begin with. The human mind loves, or rather needs a 'story', even if the story is illusory.
True, Dr. Fallon. Yet in any event it is still the choice of the person. Like anyone else, I have many urges throughout the day which I choose to ignore or accept. Sometimes the pressure is overwhelming, yet still I can say no. Granted, biological determinism in some measure is demonstrated, but for all that I make the decisions, be they 'influenced' by my biology and past decisions, or no.
However difficult that may be to quantify, volition exists and is the (weak or powerful) king.
So again, maybe the focus on normal versus abnormal brains -- which you've already begun -- should ask the question, 'did these abnormal brains BECOME abnormal due to decisions, so we are viewing the results ex post facto?' It would be good to at least rule out whether you're looking at the CAUSE or the EFFECT of volition, in those brain samples. I wish I had the money, I'd put it up to fund such research. :)
Many of the early changes in behavior occur prior to puberty and progressively worsen into adolescence and beyond. This worsening of behavior argues somewhat against your reasoning, but your point is valid. We went through a similar discussion as to whether male homosexual brain differences (in comparison to the population at large) evident in gay men who had died with AIDS were due to changes induced by the virus, or the behavior, vs the changes occurring prenatally.
I find that for myself it is easy to use my will when I don't particularly have an emotional dog in the fight. But when the issue is something I am passionate about, I'm not sure my dispassionate will is in the driver's seat at all.
Dr. Fallon, the question then becomes why the emotion? Past decisions beget a kind of programming, will on the will. Just like practicing piano. :) So why is it so hard to imagine that will shapes biology? The more I think about these issues and your research, the more I wish I had the millions and 20 years required to do the study required.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
And how did women get the psychopathic gene? From Satan when Eve ate the apple of original sin. Cain was the first psychopath. It's all because of Eve and womenfolk.
These genes such as the MAOA and vasopressin receptor gene (and other) are not 'psychopathic' genes, but rather gene subtypes (called SNPs) that code for a protein, usually a neurotransmitter related enzyme that alters the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain in development and later in the course of postnatal, adolescent, adult behavior. Some of these alter aggressiveness and can, in combination with stressors, associate with violent behavior (not murder per se).
Women and men can inherit these sex-linked genes , some of which (like MAOA) are located on the X chromosome. Male children can only inherit this from their mother, but female children inherit both the low risk or high risk forms of the gene from the mother and the father. The high risk gene is rarer, so the total number of females inheriting the high risk alleles is significantly lower than in males. But females can and do inherit them, albeit at a lower rate.
Dear friend, We are the biggest wholesale company on electronic product in China. We can offer you the best price and afterservice.there are many kinds of electronic products in our store, such as TV, Notebooks, GPS,iphone,Mp3, Mp4 and so on.When you havetime, please visit our website and contact us. we will try our best to help you .
Our belief: credit is the first, customers are our god.
Our website is:__lucksey{.}COM__
Please enter the site format! Be able to look at site!
To kill would render a persons entire future usless. The conscience is a very strong orchestrator of ones future. To murder would form a negative possible parellel universe.
For those who commented on the shortness of this talk: TED is a banquet of possibilities for the speakers and participants alike. The longest talks can be a maximum of 18 minutes. Then there are 9 minute talks, and then 5 and 3 minute presentations. I was alloted 9 minutes. Normally, the core subject matter I discussed takes about 50 minutes to present, but this talk was really about how I found out during my research that my own family had these skeletons in our own closet. Ouch.
Hey Doc, really a great video yours. I'd like to hear more about it, a shame it's so short.
By the way, I've been wondering: you said that that MAOA gene was the cause of increased violence mainly on males. But a gene like that wouldn't be the favorite one to evolution, especially to early human kind? And by being so interesting to survival, isn't there any genetic answer that sets killing actions only to non-human beings? How is that explained?
The fact that a woman will chose the killer, semi criminal type of personality over the good guy is an interesting ( true observation) ; how can this lead to a bettering of human kind.
I dunno... up until very recently, the vast majority of mankind has lived in conditions far more violent than those of Israel, and it only gets worse the farther back in time you go -- being murdered by a thief was one of the leading causes of death in ancient Rome.
If this were the case -- that women in violent places will go for a psychopath -- then you'd think we'd all be psychopaths by now.
It would be useful if there is a historian on board here to provide us with some perspective (and data) on whether the 20th century has been as 'psychopathic' as it might seem, or are we just more well informed about our behavior in war, in the home, on the street etc.
In addition, were there chronically warlike societies in the past that lasted many centuries, or are we just aware more of these 'interesting' societies because of their otherwise rich cultural impact on the world?
Interesting that he says you have to be exposed to violence "in 3d." Does that mean real life. As in not video games? this research could finally stop people from blaming bad stuff on video games.
More to the point you could no boubt link killers to the use of drugs ( yes sigarets and ( catholics arn't going to like this one - alcohol are drugs ).
Charles Manson didn't kill anyone. Seriously. I'm no psychotic Charley fan, I'm just saying in the interest of science and objectivity and stuff that's true, this man killed nobody. But yet here he is next to David Berkowitz in a lecture about the brains of psychopathic killers, not just the psychopathic.
Jedimasterbooboo, Manson is however a psychopathic. During his time with the family at Spahn Ranch he engaged in horrendous acts of brutality & rape. He ordered others to kill for his pleasure & gradification. Murder & violence were his emotional currency & entertainment.
Manson is one of those guys who should never have been brought in alive. However, I don't think he should have been convicted of murder in a court of law though because he never physically killed anyone.
the whole part about only being able to get it from your mother didnt make sense when i thought about it. as far as i remember, thats not how x's n y's workd
Lol, assuming ur mother has X1X2 and ur father has X1Y, and the psycopathic gene was the X2 one. The if ur folks gave birth to a daughter, shed have to be X1X2 and the X1 from the father would dilute the effects of the X2 from the mother. HOWEVER if they were to have a son. The only to possible outcomes are X1Y and X2Y, if the son inherits X1 hell be fine. If he inherits X2 from the mother instead, hell be more likely to flip out.
This has been flagged as spam show
Homosexual activists understand the power of words.
Please visit my channel to watch a one-minute video clip in which popular atheist author Richard Dawkins admits that homosexual activists "hijacked the word 'gay'".
The word "homosexual" is more appropriate and accurate because it, unlike the word "gay", actually describes the behavior/attraction/relationship being discussed.
The word "gay" helps homosexual activists push their agenda.
lightandbeautiful 1 week ago
"I was doing research into killers and found out that my family is full of them."
Yeah, uh, thanks for the talk? *Clap, clap... runs the fuck away* o_O
IntarwebUser 3 weeks ago
He did a programme on the BBC more recently than this talk; it turns out he's the psycho.
CymroGoch 1 month ago 2
Yeah...anger management for Palestinians whose homes are being bulldozed to make room for Israely colonies. Right
crudhousefull 1 month ago in playlist More videos from TEDtalksDirector
Okay I just watched it, this way way better than Jimmy Fallon :D
Alexillion 3 months ago
@Alexillion
Lol
TheNarcMan 3 months ago
THIS ISN'T JIMMY FALLON, GOD DAMN
Alexillion 3 months ago
@Alexillion well if you had been paying attention you would have noticed it says jim fallon not jimmy!
Auriel5 1 week ago
that was certainly not enough time...
paranapoleon 6 months ago
Wish I could've been there to hear all of it- very interesting.
BriannaNLC 8 months ago
Someone should do an EEG scan of Fred Phelps and see what comes up.
SamonMarquis 1 year ago 3
This has been flagged as spam show
@SamonMarquis, "Someone should do an EEG scan of Fred Phelps and see what comes up."
LOL.
LloydChristmas777 7 months ago
yea, If I were Dr. Fallon, i'd be REALLY concerned.
mophead2345 1 year ago
this was interesting but it feels unfinished
shethewriter 1 year ago
Very interesting. Where are the rest of the parts? Too bad I cannot find it. :( But thank you for uploading this.
chinitocutie 1 year ago
What is the base rate for the characteristics you've found in serial killer brains? If your OWN brain looks like that of a serial killer, why doesn't that invalidate your theory? What is the sensitivity and specificity of your ability to detect a serial killer based on their brain type? Can you please send me any papers you have that has this information? Thanks . . .
jazzguitar2010 1 year ago
It is May 13 2010, and video is not working.
Searched google, and found this video at the TED website. Awesome information. This will give the corrections system in the United States pause for thought.
dinogrower 1 year ago
YOU'VE BEEN ON CRIMINAL MINDS!
iwantasimplelove 1 year ago
your family is now under surveillance, lol congratulations.
GGAlice1 1 year ago
Wow really interesting and funny.A big fan!
HARDCORESUPERSMASHER 1 year ago
Dr. Fallon I found this to be very interesting. Thank you.
HARDCORESUPERSMASHER 1 year ago
TED is the best for young innovators...soo much knowledge man!! amazing!!
metalfreak244 1 year ago
Mr. Fallon's presentation was very general and conjectural. However there are some scientists, such as Dr. David Comings, who have been making more intensive quantitative studies. Comings has found some evidence that links violent behavior with a series of dysfunctions associated with the same genetic inheritance that leads to Tourette's Syndrome in some individuals. It does have to do with serotonin/dopamine imbalances. Comings and others are trying to put these studies on a firmer footing.
Selahrs 2 years ago
To say murder is connected to brain structure is an unforgivable sin. Science is not in support of such Bull-crap. If anyone responds to this comment, give me substance.
detriplea 2 years ago
Any thought or feeling that leads to any action is directly related to the brain, but that certainly doesn't mean that you can scan a brain and say "this person will definitely commit murder" is quite absurd, especially if said person has no history of violence or anything. For the same reason that being psychotic doesn't necessarily make a person dangerous. I would therefore tend to agree with your point.
ninjatoothpaste 2 years ago
I would also like to make the point that just because there is no definitive link between brain structure, brain chemistry, brain damage et cetera, it does not mean that these factors are irrelevant. Statistically there may be a link, although how useful that information really is in a fair society is currently debatable it may well find a very positive and useful application in the future - only further study and research can answer that question though.
ninjatoothpaste 2 years ago
@ninjatoothpaste Its like a modern day version of phrenology
the7thwreck 1 year ago
@the7thwreck I quite agree, although as I said before, structural or chemical anomalies to the brain may have an effect on the way people behave, but I don't think a strong case can be made for determining criminality based on the science of the brain, I think it's much more likely a product of social upbringing and such :)
ninjatoothpaste 1 year ago
Your a douchebag.
jackassunit22 1 year ago
I thought psychologists can lose their license by evaluating and diagnosing people of whom they have biases, ie FAMILY!!!
AND...
could his children/grandchildren really give consent to being tested if under 18!
mortald 2 years ago
Give over, they'd probably find it interesting checking out their brain scans, it's hardly like he was running drug trials on them. And he wasn't treating or diagnosing them as their physician/psychiatrist he was scanning them for part of a research project.
ninjatoothpaste 2 years ago
Charles Manson did not kill a soul ever. How come he ends up with people like Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer!? It's absurd!!!
armelix73 2 years ago
The ethical implications of this are staggering. Should we scan prisoners and imprison those that are prone to killing for a longer time?
Ramshobraja 2 years ago
The implications only become staggering once you put the knowledge to some use, at the moment it's entirely academic; understanding the link could be used to help repeat offenders be rehabilitated as they may have different requirements than ordinary people, it doesn't inherently mean that we should impose some Orwellian segregation on innocent people, that's a little melodramatic.
ninjatoothpaste 2 years ago
Hi, Dr. Fallon! I have watched the A&E biographies of some of these serial killers. I don't remember many 3D violent traumas in their early youth. Could you provide some examples?
ahomersimpson 2 years ago
his point is that the mind of a serial killer is cultivated from a very precise amount of events strung together. like an alphabet soup; serial soup. those with violent 3D traumas have a tendency to become killers, but likewise also have the capacity to grow from it. that's when BE brain damage and genes come in. if for example you have a character like lizzie borden in your family, you would be more likely to kill and even more likely if suffered through a traumatic event. hope this helps :)
GoldfishChannel 2 years ago
Hi GoldfishChannel,
I want you to take a look at the studies in the following Serotonin (is a monoamine neurotransmitter) In the ultimatum game, participants whose serotonin levels have been artificially lowered will reject unfair offers more often than players with normal serotonin levels, this is like a :Monoamine receptor tree, it makes sence to know where the BAD NEWS IS I was involved with someone whom straight Genological Tree of well known NAZI and trust me his levels of Narcisim high
BusinessButterfly 2 years ago
oh wow that's very neat. yes i agree that it's important to know your family's personal psychological history to better understand how future generations will be.
GoldfishChannel 2 years ago
Have you ever read the Japanese graphic novel (manga) called Monster? It's about a young serial killer, the very origin of his psychopathy is caused by a Neurologist. I think the scientific information shown in this story is correct. But it suggests that the root of the killer's psychopathy is his sister's pain. All his life he falsely believed that his twin sister's experience was his own. It's strange because then compassion is what originally made this child a psychopath. What do you think?
lozabatata 2 years ago
Jim Fallon here. Tomorrow night, Wednesday, November 18th at nine PM on CBS, there will be an episode of Criminal Minds that is based, in part, on this TED talk. In the episode, I play myself giving a focussed lecture on transgenerational, sex-linked, violence and its relationship to continued violence in war torn regions of the world. The executive producer/writer Simon Mirren did a fantastic job of capturing the core theory in an excellent dramatic crime show episode. May be worth a look-see.
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago 29
@DrJamesFallon Saw your CNN interview tonight (July 5). Is this interview on-line for people who cannot afford cable, like my mom who is a full-time student. Was interested in tonight's interview because I've been studying sociopaths since I was dumped by one recently.
gwr5d 1 year ago
I can't believe they still list Charles Manson as a serial killer, when he wasn't even there when the murders happened. He never killed a person in his life and the whole case was a big show. This is far from scientific.
gusphraba 2 years ago
This is still an open question concerning Manson. If you conclude that he masterminded a series of nine murders, then there is good reason to conclude that the he used those kids as the murder weapons, and that he was indeed a serial killer. But as you infer, this is not the usual meaning of serial killer. There is a nexus of the law, psychpathology, and common meaning here, and there are no bright lines separating these three domains.
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago
i know! why didn't you show everybody all your forensic research on the murders? i told you to!!!
haolekillah 2 years ago
he was the mastermind of all. even his followers in the past admitted to it. do your research.
lightandsalt 2 years ago
Argh.. i was really getting into that, then it stopped. =(
Crazee108 2 years ago
Check back on November 11th.
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago
Will do! thanks for the heads up. =)
Crazee108 2 years ago
Well done for the talk and how nice of you to answer questions in comments !
lllazarrr 2 years ago
This one was pretty interesting, too bad it was so short
osofrontinoquantico 2 years ago 37
Palestra disponível em português.
Tradutor colaborador do TED.
Belúcio Haibara
haibaraidiomas 2 years ago
fantastic. i always wanted to know how my brain worked :P
ExNihiloJimmy 2 years ago 3
exnihilo...
nice
truestyleoutlaw 2 years ago
volume up!!!
Gnometower 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
That talk was too short, too shallow, and predictive without logical basis. Also, Charles Manson was no killer.
bluesrunthegame 2 years ago
Dr. Fallon,
have you see the brains of "successful" psychopaths? The ones who lead some organizations, the kind Robert Hare wrote about? Are their brains the same as those of killer psycos?
anvarts 2 years ago 4
anvarts - I think you are referring to sociopaths, rather than psychopaths. They tend to be the ones, talked about in studies, who prosper in environments which reward manouvering and selective empathy.
Intiom 2 years ago 2
This opening music you guys have is so annoying, and so loud, though it seems you changed it slightly since I last visited (?).
kali17 2 years ago
This guy's funnier on late night. But just a little.
Cannibalzz 2 years ago
There might be a similar gene in dogs. Why do some dogs (even entire breeds) become shy and cowardice when they are physically abused and others become vicious?
luiza2166 2 years ago
interesting observation.
branboom 2 years ago
Luiza,
Humans have selectively bred dogs for many thousands of years for specific purposes, in an attempt to amplify those wolf behaviors desired for varied human purposes. But some other changes occur remarkably quickly in canines. In a study done in Russia on wild foxes in the 1950s, it was found that after only a couple of generations the foxes become docile, friendly to humans, and even take on new coloration patterns much like domesticated dogs.
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago
In my experience, new color patterns and even new traits can be obtained by inbreeding, which I am totally against, and any somewhat intelligent animal will be extremely docile if s/he never experiences inflicted pain. I suppose humans are just the same, no? :)
luiza2166 2 years ago
Luiza,
You don't think there is an important role for pain in shaping survival and effective behavioral responses in all animals including humans?
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago
Absolutely, no doubt about it whatsoever. If something injured us and we felt no pain, we would not try to get away. We would most likely be eaten alive or fatally wounded. Also, if we felt no pain, we would not learn to avoid whatever it is that injured us and would be injured repeatedly over time. Pain keeps us alive (us in the general sense, meaning most living beings). If there were no pain, there would be no fear. Without fear, there would be no self-preservation.
luiza2166 2 years ago
Exploring is part of growing up. A lion cub will come across a porcupine and learn that if he messes with the porcupine, he will feel a lot of pain. He will learn that if an adult lion growls, hed better play somewhere else or his ear is going to be bitten (hard enough to cause some pain but not enough to cause injury). If you pay attention, all animals warn before they take action. Horses will turn back their ears flat against their neck. Mammals with horns will lower their head, etc.
luiza2166 2 years ago
Cats will hiss. Dogs will growl. Snakes will curl up and raise their heads, etc.
So in the animal kingdom, baby animals are given a choice: continue and get (lightly) punished or do something else. These punishments do not cause trauma because the animals see it coming. Trust is not broken. The animal fully understands why s/he was punished.
luiza2166 2 years ago
Pain caused by accidents or disease also does not cause personality changes. Your cat or dog is never going to become aggressive if you accidentally step on its paw or tail, even if it happens more than once. Why? Because you will react in a way that the animal will know it was an accident. You will probably pick it up and kiss it and say youre sorry. Eventually the animal will learn not to sit behind you when you are cooking or doing the dishes.
luiza2166 2 years ago
This is all very different from an animal (or person) who suffers pain they cannot avoid, get away from or understand. Eventually, people (or animals) who have to endure this kind of pain will become aggressive or shy, simply to preserve themselves. Once they (both animals and humans) learn to distrust humans, it is very hard and sometimes impossible to win back their trust. There is a fabulous speech by Camila Batmanghelidjh here in YouTube on the Authors at Google channel. It is a must-see.
luiza2166 2 years ago
Luiza,
Thanks for the tip on watching Camila Batmanghelidjh. I read about her life and work and it is impressive. I couldn't find any outcome data on her approach with these kids, though. It sounds like it could work, but does it?
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago
Hi Dr. Fallon,
Since my reply to your question was way too long, I sent it to your YouTube inbox. Hope you don´t mind. :)
luiza2166 2 years ago
I have read about killers for years, along with other criminals and i find the entire subject fascinating. Is it a social effect or a genetic one? Is it a predisposition genetically that can be countered with social effects on a person or is something else going on? Why is it that most men are the serial killer types? Here we are finding some answers.
The entire subject is fascinating and i thank Jim Fallon for this talk.
imr22 2 years ago
this is pseudo scientific bullshit
ComeWalkTheTalk 2 years ago
I'm glad to see it tweaked your interest.
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago 2
care to explain to me how you can compare this with stuff like ufos or ghost hunting?
cnmaster01 2 years ago
I didn't.
ComeWalkTheTalk 2 years ago
ComeWalk, UFOs and ghost hunting are other examples of pseudo scientific topics, so it seems as if you did compare this talk to those topics. If you meant something else, you might want to explain in more detail.
kevintype 2 years ago
so are you calling that real science? please explain your logic seriously
cnmaster01 2 years ago
yay support soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan
yulikesrice 2 years ago
how about support the national guard? they are actually defending us, not the people who are willing to fight in the name of globalization
lwanatt 2 years ago
Aw, I thought it was going to be Jimmy Fallon from SNL
Fuliginosus 2 years ago
But I am Jimmy Fallon from SNL (Society for Neuroscience, Large). Besides, YouTube adds a few pounds and years to one's look.
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago
The beard threw me off.
Fuliginosus 2 years ago
Fulignosus,
When the real Jimmy Fallon started his rise to fame, I used to get emails from...uh...coeds. To stem the flow of these errant communiques I morphed his head and face with my hair and beard in a return email to them. I never heard from them again.
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago
He's so entrenched within his own matrix, looking for anomalies, that he misses out the entire human history.
How many people did the american army killed in Iraq, in their war of "freedom" ? while looking for weapons of mass destruction, that were never there, they caused the mass destruction of the entire nation. twice. And about every decade really.
is this sort of empiricism not psychopathy?
what about dropping an Atmoic bomb, killing more than 250,000 civilians?
Now, Thats Psychopathic.
superdiza 2 years ago
Is there any kind of war that you would consider non-psychopathic?
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago
War is the collective effort to destroy another collective of humans, thus constituting Mass-Murder. The only reason for so call morally "justified" wars is the inability of the individuals to wake up, think for them selves and drop their weapons in refusal.
"Traitors" I remind you are killed on the spot ,by the already mobilized and brain washed amalgamated Military.
so that the real psychopathy is the ease of which such a wave of social manipulation is even possible.
Welcome to the Matrix.
superdiza 2 years ago 2
War is not necessarily about the destruction of the other group. But rather about widening control to more territory and thus more resources.
And the people that make up the "enemy" have often proved to be the most valuable resource of all.
stukas14 2 years ago 3
Even when fighting for resources (out of greed, not necessity) the destruction of the target group's cohesion is the main aim. Iraq with no stable democracy is an iraq with lots of oil not in the hands of the people...thus the interests to sustain the war. Like in Vietnam, like the war of "terror".
Also wars are very profitable to those making the wars, ie the militray industrial complex. (which JFK talked about a week before he got shot)
superdiza 2 years ago
Suoerdiza,
What do you think of Gandhi's hierarchy of protest, resistance, and war? He felt that the option of war was actually better than the simple laying down of arms pure pacifism).
Jim
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago
Never heard of it.
The whole species is divided on an us against them mentality. institutions have to fight for money in order to survive, they just call it negotiation.
Once you let a populous to accept your monetry system, and the elite control the supply of the currency, then you got your self an empire.
One must remember what were forces Gandhi and the indigenous Indians were up against.
The solution will come from reorganizing the local cohesion of the community.
superdiza 2 years ago
This is stupid.
Not only did he not give any definition for psychopaths, he completely disregarded the fact that most death by human hands occurs through the armed forces of the military (and police)
These death are not only viewed as mentally balanced, but encouraged with medal, patriotism and governmental paychecks.
superdiza 2 years ago
you idiot, don't be so ignorant when you obviously know nothing about how the iraq war actual is
0xXEliXx0 2 years ago
superdiza is correct.
abram730 2 years ago
i think that in the case of the soldier he is willing to commit these crimes out of ignorance as for the banksters they are trying to increase the scope of their power by starting wars like the above mentioned, psychopaths kill because the actual act of killing gives them pleasure, i believe that is the distinction you are looking for
lwanatt 2 years ago
Many psychopaths say they kill not for pleasure but the urge is so overwhelming. When there is brain damage involved to the inferior prefrontal cortex (medial orbital cortex and medial prefrontal cortex) Some of this depends on WHEN the damage occurs.
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago 4
Iwanatt,
To continue, when the damage is early let's say during the first 3 years of life, the adult psychopath may not really know what they are doing is wrong. If the damage is later, let's say 7-12, he may know it is wrong but feels overwhelmingly driven to carry out a violent act. Think of it as a fundamental drive like the need to take a leak. You can hold it back for a while, but the outcome is inevitable.
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago 3
Iwanatt,
To finish the thought, one question is when the brain damage is later in adolescence or adulthood. This person, who knows what they're doing is wrong and may even be capable of inhibiting the urge (so called free will), may be significantly more culpable than the other two, no?
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago 3
The very concept of guilt in modernity has been mutated to serve the system. I never quite understood why if some1 kills under the influence of mind altering substances then he's guilt with no mitigating circumstances, yet if he is psychiatrcally approved "nut" then it's okay.
If the basic premise is to punish to excommunicate socially deletrious individuals, then the likelhhod of repeating the offense should be the basic argument.
Not seeking the approval of the high priest of current times.
superdiza 2 years ago 2
I think what happens here is this: drugged people can be "taught" not to murder again by being locked up in prison for years (or for life, as an example for other would-be killers).
Now, psychiatrically sick people usually benefit more from medical treatment. It's not useful to lock away somebody unstable, it may just worsen the case! So, the key is treating his disease, so he won't be murdering again.
After all, the whole concept of judicial punishment is to prevent bad things from happening.
tukkek 2 years ago 2
first of all, correctional facilities don't even attempy correction. they practice punishment and excommunication, nothing else. secondly, someone who has a reoccuring disease that makes him murder peopel is much MORE dangerous to society than someone who was under the influence of narcotics and not behaving in his usual pattern.
Your argument is not even propaganda, it's political self justification.
if you want to prevent things, go talk to the prisoners. study. no one does that. guess y.
superdiza 2 years ago
I have to disagree. The judicial system is to judge, normally to punish for crimes. If all we were worried about was preventing bad things why not lock everyone up?
Just because someone in a product of their envierment should not exclude them from punishment for breaking the rules put in place by that society. While Christian morals are crap, there is an element of justice that is state operated controlled and moderated vengance, and I'm not convinced that's a bad thing.
JamesTheTank 2 years ago
I understand what you mean and you make a point, but the differentating factor is choice. You choose to take drugs or alcohol but you do not choose to be insain, you just are.
309434306 2 years ago
that's stupid. either you choose EVERYTHING in your life, including getting to an argument with a violent murderer, or you don't.
If one has a history of sexual abuse wthin the family and a history of being prone to addicting substances, than it's not anymore of a choice than being born with a genetic predisposition to become "insain".
not to mention, that Insanity is just a big magic word that means "not like the norm set by the priests". it does not mean violence or even negative to society.
superdiza 2 years ago
The way that I explained myself was very 'Black and white', and i guess that I could have went into more detail. I was refering to someone under the influence of mind altering drugs. You choose to take these drugs so whatever you do under the influence, you are accountable for. That is not to say that people with mental conditions that lead to violence have a definitive excuse, but it is taken into account. (and I disagree with the methods that mental institutions treat patients)
309434306 2 years ago
And i never said that having a different mind set from whatever is classified from the norm is bad. (One cound go into metaphysics about the 'your reality is not the same as mine as far as we know', but i'll just leave it at that)
309434306 2 years ago
Insane means a person cannot cope with the environment or other people in a way most of us can. It's just an umbrella term for lots of psychiatric disorders.
Itsooz 2 years ago
Insane means different than the approved official state of consciousness pre-declared by the high priesthood of psychiatry and government.
Remember all of those free loving peace wanting military avoiding hippies? all insane. so are the 911 false flag conspiracy theorists.
only when they become millionaires are they accepted by the system as leaders, or "eccentric"s.
superdiza 2 years ago
Wth are you on about? No one's calling hippies insane unless just to show his disapproval. I was talking about the state or real insanity, when you're just not able to cope with the world. A kind of mental disorder
Itsooz 2 years ago
I salute you.
TimothyParadox1 2 years ago
His theory explains the question posed by Steven Pinker in earlier TED talk (A brief history of violence). Steven Pinker noted that historically violence decrease exponentially. It seems that Jim Fallons gene concentration theory implies a feedback loop. And feedback loop can explain why the violence decline is exponential.
igorkrupitsky 2 years ago
Exciting news.What abt children who inherit the depression gene from their parents??Any news on this??This is a much more common problem and it will be helpful for us to understand how to cope.
440204075143 2 years ago
4402...,
We are studying the presence of potential "depression genes". As with all genetically impacted neurological disorders, it is difficult to point out a statistically significant ONE gene that is responsible. There seems to be a complex interaction of several (even many) gene variants and all the combinations lead one to view all of these disorders (eg schizophrenia, major depression, etc) as a genetic spectrum, ie, no two are identical. Even identical twins are NOT genetically identical.
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago 4
OMG, your work is great but the intention or unintended consequences is so evil!!!!
If you can spot out the "murderer kid" what the hell will you do to them? Wht the hell the politician will do to them?
What's the way out? change their gene?
Can you see? you making a little step to create a Frankenstein. Then you can say the fault is not done by you. Mr Doctor scientist.
opps288 2 years ago
Some people may have a murder gene, others probably have a pedophilic gene, others a masochistic gene, others a narcisstic gene, and the list goes on and on and.....
The answer is the same as always; we erect laws to protect people's privacy and do nothing to those at risk.
Mrmoc7 2 years ago
The most evil part of this video is that there's a commercial at the end.
Wait, it gets better.
It's an energy company bragging about how healthy it claims to be!
PrivateSlacker 2 years ago
I am wondering if the use of drugs during pregnancy(antidepressants or even caffeine) that increase serotonin levels in the brain could increase the chances of the baby becoming a killer?
wenndigo2 2 years ago
If that would be the case, we would have been running out of killing machines (governmental or private).
Put in a different way, if it would be the case we would be able to suppress genetic anomalies by drugs.
The why we can't has more to do with the troubling side effects of breaking down the serotonin. If broken down, your whole diet should be geared towards this to prevent an accidental "overdose" on tyramine.
Wikipedia has some good info on this.
It's an non-option regarding prevention.
dominice112 2 years ago
woo this people are so smart but they could not notice the joke in the pictures were ted was seen. I was loling.
soccerkills 2 years ago
so doc since you gave this talk in Israel, did you tell them anything about the violence in the their army? or was it all about those violent psychopathic kids with rocks?
ergoiamtoo 2 years ago 3
So Doc, when you eventually find the sibling in your own family who carries this "psychopathic" gene, what will you do with them? Pump them full of drugs or euthanize them?
Or is this just another way to promote eugenics in war torn developing countries.
Don't get me wrong, good empirical research but it could be used for evil purposes. Sterilization, forced abortions, eugenics etc.
hipbas 2 years ago
The best option would be to pump them full of love.
The idea for war torn countries is not eugenics but to determine if such genetic drift is occurring, and use this scientific knowledge to convince countries not to oppress others, specifically not to foment discord that leads to street violence, etc since the effects would last centuries, well beyond the proximal political causes, and ultimately lead to the demise of the oppressors. Self preservation to motivate an end to the madness.
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago 5
Wel Doc, I am glad you post here, and I am glad this is how you see it...I definitively agree with your point of view, but I am afraid the research itself is not bound to an ideal. I am curious do you yourself have control over the use of the research? I am afraid I dont trust our society with all the wonderful things that keep being discovered
conceitarturo 2 years ago
If only politicians would embrace such humanitarian ideologies that involved long-term outlooks.Unfortunately, foreign policy is based on corporate interests, geo-strategic positioning to expand hegemonic power and domination of natural resources. War is the tool, violence and death are acceptable Malthusian consequences. If we had more scientists like you in politics, the world would be a better place. Wonder if the political environment in Washington triggers some sort of moral "sell-out" gene
hipbas 2 years ago
Hipbas,
Great points you're making. Except for one. I've been a Libertarian since 1970 and we've never won an election! So much for any political career....
Jim
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago
More studies need to be done on how VOLITION affects biology. We know it does. The so-called 'hysterical pregnancy' is a famous example. So maybe the answer isn't to claim that we are hard-wired (even though there may be some truth in that) -- but that what makes the psychopathy come alive, is volition.
Surely after all these centuries the entire population has 'some' of the killer gene in it. So volition must account for the fact only a small % of people, become murderers, etc.
brainout1 2 years ago
Volition, or will is tough to define and quantify. Volition may be an illusion of choice, that is, one already makes one mind up, and then, post hoc, fabricates a sense of volition as if they were in control of the decision to begin with. The human mind loves, or rather needs a 'story', even if the story is illusory.
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago 3
True, Dr. Fallon. Yet in any event it is still the choice of the person. Like anyone else, I have many urges throughout the day which I choose to ignore or accept. Sometimes the pressure is overwhelming, yet still I can say no. Granted, biological determinism in some measure is demonstrated, but for all that I make the decisions, be they 'influenced' by my biology and past decisions, or no.
However difficult that may be to quantify, volition exists and is the (weak or powerful) king.
brainout1 2 years ago
So again, maybe the focus on normal versus abnormal brains -- which you've already begun -- should ask the question, 'did these abnormal brains BECOME abnormal due to decisions, so we are viewing the results ex post facto?' It would be good to at least rule out whether you're looking at the CAUSE or the EFFECT of volition, in those brain samples. I wish I had the money, I'd put it up to fund such research. :)
brainout1 2 years ago
Many of the early changes in behavior occur prior to puberty and progressively worsen into adolescence and beyond. This worsening of behavior argues somewhat against your reasoning, but your point is valid. We went through a similar discussion as to whether male homosexual brain differences (in comparison to the population at large) evident in gay men who had died with AIDS were due to changes induced by the virus, or the behavior, vs the changes occurring prenatally.
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago 3
Brainout,
I find that for myself it is easy to use my will when I don't particularly have an emotional dog in the fight. But when the issue is something I am passionate about, I'm not sure my dispassionate will is in the driver's seat at all.
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago 2
Dr. Fallon, the question then becomes why the emotion? Past decisions beget a kind of programming, will on the will. Just like practicing piano. :) So why is it so hard to imagine that will shapes biology? The more I think about these issues and your research, the more I wish I had the millions and 20 years required to do the study required.
brainout1 2 years ago
bullshit! people create their own destiny's no one is genetically inclined to be a murderer.
pboisei 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
And how did women get the psychopathic gene? From Satan when Eve ate the apple of original sin. Cain was the first psychopath. It's all because of Eve and womenfolk.
GaddingImp 2 years ago
And yet Cain wasn't punished for being the first psychopath...... think that through deeper next time you make such a claim please please.
Hataka1 2 years ago
Gadding,
These genes such as the MAOA and vasopressin receptor gene (and other) are not 'psychopathic' genes, but rather gene subtypes (called SNPs) that code for a protein, usually a neurotransmitter related enzyme that alters the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain in development and later in the course of postnatal, adolescent, adult behavior. Some of these alter aggressiveness and can, in combination with stressors, associate with violent behavior (not murder per se).
Jim
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago 5
Gadding,
Women and men can inherit these sex-linked genes , some of which (like MAOA) are located on the X chromosome. Male children can only inherit this from their mother, but female children inherit both the low risk or high risk forms of the gene from the mother and the father. The high risk gene is rarer, so the total number of females inheriting the high risk alleles is significantly lower than in males. But females can and do inherit them, albeit at a lower rate.
Jim
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago 5
This has been flagged as spam show
Dear friend, We are the biggest wholesale company on electronic product in China. We can offer you the best price and afterservice.there are many kinds of electronic products in our store, such as TV, Notebooks, GPS,iphone,Mp3, Mp4 and so on.When you havetime, please visit our website and contact us. we will try our best to help you .
Our belief: credit is the first, customers are our god.
Our website is:__lucksey{.}COM__
Please enter the site format! Be able to look at site!
ghtfdrd 2 years ago
interesting. i like how he mentioned his own family
ameera14 2 years ago
To kill would render a persons entire future usless. The conscience is a very strong orchestrator of ones future. To murder would form a negative possible parellel universe.
austpom333 2 years ago
parellel universe?
evildevillivedlive 2 years ago
( different future ) - Type parellel universe into youtube.
austpom333 2 years ago
That was great.
killiney4444 2 years ago
Hello Dr. Fallon,
What's your opinion on free will?
AnlamK 2 years ago
I think it is over-rated as a human capability.
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago 6
For those who commented on the shortness of this talk: TED is a banquet of possibilities for the speakers and participants alike. The longest talks can be a maximum of 18 minutes. Then there are 9 minute talks, and then 5 and 3 minute presentations. I was alloted 9 minutes. Normally, the core subject matter I discussed takes about 50 minutes to present, but this talk was really about how I found out during my research that my own family had these skeletons in our own closet. Ouch.
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago 4
Oh wow, that's you? That's really cool. This is one of the more interesting speeches on this channel.
AdamRileyKilburn 2 years ago
Hey Doc, really a great video yours. I'd like to hear more about it, a shame it's so short.
By the way, I've been wondering: you said that that MAOA gene was the cause of increased violence mainly on males. But a gene like that wouldn't be the favorite one to evolution, especially to early human kind? And by being so interesting to survival, isn't there any genetic answer that sets killing actions only to non-human beings? How is that explained?
(will you by any chance be on ted again?)
gamenorus 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Fuck off with your intro and your out-tro. They are too long and a violation of youtube's conditions.
Fuck G E
Flagged.
golddigger159 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Hi Folks. Jim Fallon here. Any questions about this gig?
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago 2
Hi Folks, Jim Fallon here. Any questions you want to ask me about this gig?
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago 5
Wow that explains the comonality of the image of the psycho mother with the pack of murderous sons common in so many stories.
ratholin 2 years ago
It's not really their fault, for you creationists: god made them that way.. defective
I hope we can fix them and others like pedophiles... etc
mockingarab 2 years ago
The fact that a woman will chose the killer, semi criminal type of personality over the good guy is an interesting ( true observation) ; how can this lead to a bettering of human kind.
austpom333 2 years ago 2
I dunno... up until very recently, the vast majority of mankind has lived in conditions far more violent than those of Israel, and it only gets worse the farther back in time you go -- being murdered by a thief was one of the leading causes of death in ancient Rome.
If this were the case -- that women in violent places will go for a psychopath -- then you'd think we'd all be psychopaths by now.
On second thought, maybe we are.
nm. good talk.
GRNoam 2 years ago
It would be useful if there is a historian on board here to provide us with some perspective (and data) on whether the 20th century has been as 'psychopathic' as it might seem, or are we just more well informed about our behavior in war, in the home, on the street etc.
In addition, were there chronically warlike societies in the past that lasted many centuries, or are we just aware more of these 'interesting' societies because of their otherwise rich cultural impact on the world?
DrJamesFallon 2 years ago 5
Test
austpom333 2 years ago
TED wrote in capital letters :D as the show TED
seppesai 2 years ago
Interesting that he says you have to be exposed to violence "in 3d." Does that mean real life. As in not video games? this research could finally stop people from blaming bad stuff on video games.
jharsika 2 years ago
I think it does..
badboyfrvr 2 years ago
psychpathic killers are so interesting. im so attracted to the stories and the people. It's something i'll never tire of researching.
HorrorshowDevochka 2 years ago
More to the point you could no boubt link killers to the use of drugs ( yes sigarets and ( catholics arn't going to like this one - alcohol are drugs ).
austpom333 2 years ago
Because someone who spells doubt wrong and makes up words like sigarets has the answers to what causes murders. Amazing.
Senoska 2 years ago
Wouldn't this apply to earlier and more violent periods of time? I would think there would be more incidences of serial killing in the middle ages...
simchamo 2 years ago
Jimmy Fallon's Father?
gregormech 2 years ago
Charles Manson didn't kill anyone. Seriously. I'm no psychotic Charley fan, I'm just saying in the interest of science and objectivity and stuff that's true, this man killed nobody. But yet here he is next to David Berkowitz in a lecture about the brains of psychopathic killers, not just the psychopathic.
jedimasterbooboo 2 years ago
Jedimasterbooboo, Manson is however a psychopathic. During his time with the family at Spahn Ranch he engaged in horrendous acts of brutality & rape. He ordered others to kill for his pleasure & gradification. Murder & violence were his emotional currency & entertainment.
BabetteBombshell 2 years ago
So that fits this man's criteria for study then? Okay, point taken. Thanks.
jedimasterbooboo 2 years ago
Manson is one of those guys who should never have been brought in alive. However, I don't think he should have been convicted of murder in a court of law though because he never physically killed anyone.
rangerdanger222 2 years ago
Next: JIMMY Fallon on talent-free comedy.
Just kidding.
vysehrad 2 years ago
That's one family christmas dinner where you don't want to piss anyone off.
popaddict 2 years ago 6
the whole part about only being able to get it from your mother didnt make sense when i thought about it. as far as i remember, thats not how x's n y's workd
NiNJack 2 years ago
Lol, assuming ur mother has X1X2 and ur father has X1Y, and the psycopathic gene was the X2 one. The if ur folks gave birth to a daughter, shed have to be X1X2 and the X1 from the father would dilute the effects of the X2 from the mother. HOWEVER if they were to have a son. The only to possible outcomes are X1Y and X2Y, if the son inherits X1 hell be fine. If he inherits X2 from the mother instead, hell be more likely to flip out.
CellarDoorFilm 2 years ago