Article Type : Research Article
Authors : Maria Teresa Sotelo M
Keywords : Brain; Alterations; Limbic system; Child abused
Diverse medical, and criminal sciences, highlights the child
abuse, as precursor of later criminal behavior. The findings aim to unify the
criterion that there is a triad invariably present in serial killers: Brain
damage or mental illnes: Psychopathic, antisocial personality; Social
rejection; A history of abuse and abandonment during childhood. Some other
correlate the variants of two genes - MAOA and CDH13 - with the propensity to
commit violent crimes. The brain of an infant can be morphologically altered
when at young stages the victim had suffered chronic stress and prolonged
abuse, due to an excessive release of cortisol and norepinephrine, hormones
which instigate a decrease in the size of the hippocampus. Alterations that
will damage the limbic system, which is the brain area most implicated in emotions
and memory. These brain harms, may explain why an individual with a history of
child abuse, is at risk of criminal life. The sensibility, empathy, and remorse
will cease to be a regulating valve to mediate their behavior.
During my fieldwork
path on child abuse, I have been in a constant pursuit for answers that clarify
the root of this social scourge, I have explored as many possible components
that offer medical, scientific, sociological, criminological, and even
religious theories, explaining this phenomenon. Amid this boardwalk of
scientific deliberation, I had to delve into the genesis of crime and formulate
the challenging and eternal questions of whether a murderer is made, or it is
born.
Science has shown that
many individuals are born psychopaths, with a predisposition to his own
excessive personal pleasure, lacking the ability to feel remorse for their
actions, due to dysfunction in the brain reward área by an exacerbated release
of dopamine, [originated in the Nucleus accumbens, the interface limbic-motor
system] these individuals are carriers of the Gene MAO, however, they are
entrepreneurs or compulsive gamblers, but not murderous..
A review of countless
criminological cases and various expert theories, allow me to conclude that by
consensus, there is an invariable triad in the serial killers; Brain damage or
mental illness, antisocial personality; social rejection, or adverse social
conditions; a history of child abuse. Some academics, allude to another factor;
To be a carrier of the MAO gene (monoamine oxidase “A”) however, this
asseveration is not conclusive, whereas it is true, some researches do not
found genotypes associated with high levels of MAOA, though most agree that the
antecedents of abused and neglect, increase the risk of becoming violent and/or
antisocial in later life [1].
The Monoamina Oxidasa A
(MAO) produces an enzyme that regulates the levels of neurotransmitters
involved in impulse control. The enzyme breaks down neurotransmitters called
monoamines (noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine), and a dysfunction in its
reaction in certain areas of the brain may disturb the regulation of emotions
and behavioral control. The Karolinska Institute in Stockholm leads an
investigation published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry which links the
variants of two genes - MAOA and CDH13 - with the propensity to commit violent
crimes. The CDH13 gene contributes to the development of neuronal connections
in the brain [2].
A team of researchers
at the Institute Universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, carried out a
longitudinal study on 327 young men who live in Quebec, whom were exposed to
child violence relating the –MAOA y CDH13– with the propensity to commit
violent crimes. Notwithstanding, it concludes that non-linear interactions
between the MAOA gene and violence were detected, suggesting that the genetic
moderation may come about once a certain level of violence is experienced [3].
Then science clarifies,
that this gene can be activated when they combine various components; adverse
circumstances, brain damage, and violence background, remaining inactive
whenever the social, and biological conditions are not adverse.
Despite the
phenomenal of criminality is multifactorial and multicausal, scientific
evidences lead us to ask about its origin. The German neurologist Gerhard Roth
claims to have found the biological origin of evil, called it "the stain
of evil.” [Research funded by the German government] through neuroimages
scrutiny. Roth describes the convict's brain responses by measuring the brain
waves while exhibiting a short movie with brutal scenes, the criminals showed
no hippocampus cerebral activity. [The hippocampus, is a determining organ in
the regulation of emotions located within the intermediate temporal lobe of the
brain, part of the limbic system] the scientist observed that in the scanners,
invariably showed a dark spot on the front, which suggests that some criminals
have a "genetic predisposition" to violence, according the neurologist.
Taking as a starting point, the
research of the Center of Developing Child of Harvard, "The stain of
evil", named after Roth, could have a scientific explanation that could
partially clarify this scientific findings revealed by Dr. Shonkoff, Director
of the Center, who evidences that the brain of a three year old victim of
recurrent abuse, stress or abandonment, is morphological altered, it grows to
an extent that reaches the size of an adult brain. Likewise
Dr. Shonkoff graphically shows neuronal decrease connections in
children victims of chronic stress and suffering. This phenomenon is due to
cortisol and noradrenaline hormones, which are segregated in excess by the
kid’s adrenal medulla into the bloodstream, amidst terror and suffering,
inducing imminent impairment in the tender stage of developing brains. This
organ is made up of billions of cells interconnected, form circuits, sending
electrical signals, therefore, anguish provokes chronic stress, which induces
fewer connections and evident reduction in neuronal ramifications, which
translates into innumerable physical, motor, neurocognitive and emotional
affectations in a fragile baby's brain. In summary the abuse will modify the
infant’s brain structure.
The Center on the Developing Child
of Harvard, highlights a research on how neuronal branching decreases occur,
before the age of five in child victims of abuse. Dr. Shonkoff, demonstrates
how the cortisol and norepinephrine, hormones when secreted in excess, cause
imminent damage in the prefrontal area where emotions are regulated to the
infants’ tender brains, as a consequence of living in situations of great
stress and suffering, He concludes that excessive stress disrupts the
architecture of the developing brain [4].
This information validates that
early brain damage will clinically cause mentally disturbed individuals, when
conjugated with genetic factors and adverse social conditions. The findings of
the Center of Developing Child of Harvard, could be interlinked with Dr. Peth's
conclusions, by analyzing the sequence of behavior in emotionally disturbed
people.
Adrian Raine, professor of
criminology and psychiatry, at the University of Pennsylvania, scanned for
years the brains of diverse murderers in his lab. His research highlights a
morphological change in the brain, most of them showed a reduction in the
prefrontal cortex, [area of the brain that controls emotional impulses] as well
an over-activation of the amígdala, a component of the limbic system, which
processes emotions and directs behavior. This organ is best known for its role
in the treatment of fear whose responses to the stimuli were more prone to
anger with little or not impulse control. Raine's studies suggest that child
abuse can generate murderers due to the physical damage at the prefrontal cortex
of the brain [5].
Jonathan Pincus, professor at
Georgetown University, declared that 95% of murderers have a history of child
abuse or torture, that significantly impact the degree to incidence and
prevalence of the violence. According Dr. Amada Ampudia Rueda, Professor of
Psychology at the UNAM, women accumulate high levels of anger caused by
harassment or repressed emotions that detonate hurting their husbands, children
or other family members. Many of the murderers are single mothers, finding suffocation
as the prevalent form of death [6].
The U.S. National Institute of
Justice On its 2014 website, it publishes "Impact of Abuse and Criminal
Detention", indicating that having suffered abuse, or neglect in
childhood, increases the probability of arrest in adolescence by 59%, in
adulthood in a 28% and by crime violence in 30%. On the same page, "The
Rochester Study," published a sample of 1,000 urban youth who were
followed up over time. Investigators officially recognized that child abuse is
the risk factor for crime [7].
According to the FBI, the murders
committed by serial killers are due to psychopathological diseases with origins
in childhood. A survey by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in the prisons
of the United States, showed that the serial killers come from dysfunctional
homes, all of them had suffered some type of abuse in their childhood;
physical, emotional, sexual and / or negligence and often all kinds of abuse at
the same time. The sample indicates that the abuses received in childhood leave
a deep imprint on the subconscious, shaping their personality development.
Violent impressions can mark them for a lifetime [8].
The Professor and
Forensic doctor, José Manuel Reverte, presented a case study in which serial
killers come from dysfunctional homes with a history of childhood abuse, 70%
with alcohol and drugs, 50% showed a family history of mental illness and more
than 40 % had parents involved in the crime. Scientific evidences concluded
that a history of abuse during childhood is the most important precursor in
criminality. Tender ages lacerated with frequent acts of sadism and torture,
memories that come to life whenever remembrances reveal those brutal events.
Being at the head of the foundation
En Pantalla Contra la Violencia Infantil "FUPAVI", we launched a
pilot program using a multidisciplinary approach to care for families with high
levels of violence. Initially, the family members were submitted to a
multidisciplinary evaluation by a psychiatrist, social worker, therapist, and
family mediator. “The Early Intervention Center” “CIT” was a methodical,
innovative and personalized program. The intention was to analyze family ties,
identifying the aggressor and the victim, and to rehabilitate the family. This
project was financed by the Government of the State of Mexico, through the
Ministry of Security and the Municipality of Ecatepec [9-17].
The CIT, were settled
in the polygon most dangerous area of Ecatepec, reporting the highest crime
rates of Mexico. 231 families were evaluated, 85 violent adults were treated
under psychiatric and therapeutic treatment, due to their poor control
impulses. The methodology considered the family, the aggressor, the victims
risk factors. The information was crossed with probable mental disorders. At
98% of the cases there was a history of child abuse, families from the first
and second generation, 85% had repeated patterns of abuse. 63% of adult women
reported a depression and / or anxiety problem not clinically treated.
It is particularly interesting to
have had the opportunity to launch this pilot program precisely in one of the
country areas, considered among the most violent with high rates of violent
families, repeating patterns of abuse. The results allowed us to corroborate the
scope of this work; Child abuse causes brain damage and alters the behavior of
the individual in the adolescent and adult stages.
In general terms, I
could say that this program provided substantial information. Unfortunately,
the pilot was not continued for political reasons and head authority change, as
a result of this unfortunate situation, we were unable to make a follow up the
program. Nevertheless the expected results were satisfactory. I believe that
the implementation of this concept in risky areas, it would be a valuable tool
to intercept families where violence starts. It should be noted that the CIT,
in addition to the multidisciplinary treatment, offered talks in the community
as well at schools, with the intention of spreading positive parenting
techniques.
It is not acceptable to justify a criminal by any
circumstance, regardless of his abusing childhood history, because to the
extent that the infractor has the possibility to choose how to consciously
react, he/she will invariably be responsible for his actions, and must be
judged for the damage caused. The point is to delve into genesis of crime, as
we deepen the ontological knowledge of what underlies the human being, is where
the truth is hidden, including its biogenetic, neurological, and emotional
nature, how it metabolizes with its resources, antecedents and beliefs, diving
into the depths of the mind and its memories, inspecting the past and present
circumstances, personality, and life history, multidisciplinary procedures that
would allow timely detection of those individuals of risk and timely rescue of
people in risk of danger. To take a step ahead of the commission of crime,
through integral prevention. As we anticipate possible pathological behaviors,
we will be able to identify the perpetrators of antisocial behaviors. At the
time governments formulate public prevention policies not only to contain
crime, but preventing the root of felony, focusing on preventing child abuse as
a public health priority program.