Title/Link: Psychopaths: Born evil or with a diseasedbrain?
Date published: Nov. 15, 2011 Date accessed: Nov. 16, 2011
Summary: A brain scan of a serial killer shows that the brain of the serial killer, Brian Dugan who pleaded guilty to the rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl, Jeanine Nicarico, has limited activity in the area processing emotions. Dugan pleaded guilty in 2009 even though he had murdered her in 1983. Dugan would have received capital punishment if the death sentence had not been withdrawn in Illinois. The serial killer showed no regrets for any of his actions so the scientists believe that this maybe the reason why he committed those crimes.
Response: A person with a diseased brain may not be able to control their actions properly because they are sick; it is not what normal people would do because normal people are not sick. The article “Brain on Trial” by David Eagleman has a similar idea with this article. The sick ones maybe the unlucky ones because they do not have a choice, they do not have control over their body, but the normal ones do. It is most likely that people who are with diseased brains probably would want to do what others do to fit in, but they cannot control. The biggest question is this: Is it correct for the people whom have damaged brains to get the same punishment as the people who are not sick?
Vocabulary:
Clinically
1. Clinically, it is fascinating.
2. Concerned with or based on actual observation and treatment of disease in patients rather than experimentation or theory.
3. The medicine was clinically proven and tested.
Pioneer
1. Dr Kiehl is seen as a pioneer in a cutting-edge area of behavioural neuroscience
2. Someone who helps to open up a new line of research or technology or art
3. He went as a pioneer with only little information he had at that time.
Controversial
1. It is controversial because for thousands of years, men like Dugan have been labeled not as ill, but as evil.
2. dispute, argument, or debate, especially one concerning a matter about which there is strong disagreement
3. The issue of the death penalty is highly controversial.
Very good question at the end of your response. What do YOU think about it?
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting on my blog.
ReplyDeleteI think it is not fair to have the same punishment for everyone because every single person are different, in terms of mental. I also have another thought in my mind at the same time; what if the punishments are different and this creates a way for criminals to get away from things?