Researchers study brains of violent psychopaths, find empathy

[Fantastic Anarchist]

Very interesting.

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-psychopaths-empathy-20130724,0,4413944.story

[Warpy]

1. They've found that caring for problem animals can get through to them

and intensive treatment for violent psychopaths might involve this.

It might be that they were cultivated, not born that way, trained by parents and peers to shut that empathy switch off because it's a sign of weakness. If that's the case, there is hope for us. If not, we'll be back to caves and clubbing each other over the head fighting over a nice juicy rat in just a few generations.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

3. That's pretty interesting, too.

I'm going to have to Google it and read up on that. Wonder if it's effective.

[Wounded Bear]

2. Since many psychopaths were abused children...

that's a distinct possibility. I'm not totally sold on the whole "it's in the genes/bad blood" paradigm. Maybe for some, but I believe most are created. I've heard of the programs where inmates are taught to care for animals. It actually seems like a viable idea IMHO.