Violence - are we born with it or raised by it?
Turning on the TV to watch the evening news, there is hardly ever any good news to be reported. The main stories are mostly about a boyfriend who mistreated their girlfriend, a mother who was abusive towards her children, or of someone being brutally attacked. It makes one think about how these people are the way they are, what made them be so violent towards others? Were they raised in an environment where they were constantly exposed to violence, or was it something that was passed on to them through their genes? It turns out that it can be both.
Interactions between our heredity and environment can have an influence on aggressive behavior. Studies have found that violence can be enhanced by a genetic predisposition such as, the differences in the production of monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), along with being raised in a troubled environment. What is monoamine oxidase A? MAOA is an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, thus lowering the amounts available to the system.
The relationship between this enzyme and childhood upbringing has been studied to see their effect on antisocial behavior. It has been reported that a low or high production of MAOA does not differ significantly in their probability of antisocial behavior. However people who suffered serious maltreatment during childhood and had low levels of the enzyme, showed higher rates of antisocial behavior.
Other than being able to be used a precursor for antisocial behavior, monoamine oxidases can also be targeted for treatment in people suffering from depression. The video below gives an explanation on how destroying MAOA inhibitors can keep serotonin high in the system, with treated with antidepressant medication. Thus by inhibiting the enzyme, serotonin levels will be maintained at a fairly high level and the person's depression will be decreased.
I was also curious on this subject and I was surprised to find out in the reading that violence can be both of the effects of the environment we are in and our genes. The video you posted really offered a better understanding of how SSRI's and MAO inhibitors play a role.
ReplyDeleteBefore reading this article and watching the video I didn't fully understand what SSRI's and MAO inhibitors did or how they did the important functions they do. I also didn't know how sensitive MAO inhibitors have on a antisocial behavior of childhood too little or too much can create this antisocial behaviors.
ReplyDeleteThat was a very informative video! It gave a perfect example and showed exactly what happens at neurons synapse step-by-step.
ReplyDeleteI was also surprised to learn that violence includes both genetic and environmental factors. I would have thought it was just environmental and the way one was raised and exposed to, but after reading your information about violence I comprehend the genetic factor much more. The term monoamine oxidase and its functions are now more clear to me and I also have a visual of how they work.