Basically, nature vs. nurture. Like, do you think a psychopath is born or made? Do you think some of the world’s finest could have turned out to be serial killers if they’d had a different upbringing?
Also, what kind of parenting do you think constitutes “good parenting” or “bad parenting?”
The person with the most thorough and well thought out answer will get the 10 points.
Kat: “mental illness” covers a whole range of illnesses, some of which are genetic, some of which are environmental, many of which are both.
#1 by kristin on December 25th, 2010
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I would love to be thorough but it is 2 am. So all I know is that I was raised in a very violent, Sexually Intense , Drug house. I was beaten every day of my life until I was 17 and finally left. When I left I was a very beaten down young women who had no where to go. I found a wonderful job… Or I should say lucked out on a wonderful job and I supported myself from then on. I believe I am a wonderful person and I always have been despite the environment I grew up in. I have good morals I treat people with respect. I did go through my own little drug phase cause obviously that is all I knew about life. But I always knew I was strong and the drug’s only lasted a year of my life. I now have a wonderful boyfriend who sadly has to put up with my constant fears and insecurities and I love him to death. We have a beautiful 1 year old son and I feel that I am the luckiest women on the planet and I wouldn’t chang one thing about my life. So no I don’t believe a psychopath can be made I believe they chose to be made that way. Life is all about choices and I chose to not become what I was destined to become. I became something much better.
#2 by Kat on December 25th, 2010
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First, mental illness, like many other diseases, is hereditary. Second, there is the whole matter of birth defects. Third, you have parents. Parents (assuming there are there) are the primary example for there children. What you do, and how you act is what your kids pay attention to.
Every child is different, so to be a good parent you need to be able know each child for who they are and adapt your parenting style to fit.
#3 by jordan on December 25th, 2010
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They actually just did a study on this and so far, concluded that although mental illness does play a role, psychopaths are made..not born.
my cousin is going to school to be a criminal psychologist and she had gotten into contact with ruthless criminals to get into their minds.a lot of them had some F**KED up childhoods and no wonder why they turned out like they did.Others had normal upbringings but have a few wires loose in their brains.
it all depends on the individual.
and kristin, nobody ‘chooses’ to be a psychopath.its great that your life turned out swell despite your ugly past..but others are not so lucky.
#4 by Cara on December 25th, 2010
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After raising 5 kids…I am going w/nature. My girls did not follow my example. I did my laundry (for the family) and had dinner on the table at 6. Neither girl keeps the laundry done for her family, nor do they cook for their family, both have been married and divorced several times….I was married once. So how can anyone say they follow what they have seen? I think it is just the way they are. And I don’t believe I could have done one thing to change them. In fact I know I couldn’t, because I did try to teach them. It just didn’t work.
You can’t teach promiscuity. Either they are or they aren’t. I wasn’t….they were.
They are nothing like me. I love crafts, can sew (always could), they can do nothing. Can’t even thread a needle. I crochet…they don’t have a clue. I taught myself. I couldn’t teach them.
They were born that way.
#5 by W on December 25th, 2010
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Good parenting starts from the home. It’s a struggle to raise children without good role models, family, mom & dad, and/or siblings. They have no clue, how to be social, if they have no good role models, if they weren’t given enough ‘toys’, learning and fun, and they get bored easily, they needed to be challenged.
Schools and environment, comes later. They learn from watching, how the other children mingle with each other.
No matter how much you nurture or protect your child, it all started from their birth, how their parents spend ‘quality time’ or lack of. . . .
You start doing stuff with your children, but you just can’t buy them a toy, and let them figure it out themselves. They need one-on-one with you, by cuddling them, loving them, hugging them, and showering them compliments.
As they get older, it is their choice to make their own choice, by spreading their wings, but talents and gifts they’ve gotten from you was something they want to learn or push away, but we can’t force them. Our children do not do what we like to do, and they’re individual.