What Causes Someone to Act on Violent Impulses and Commit Murder?

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

(I know it's an older article) By Larry Greenemeier on January 12, 2011

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/anger-management-self-control/

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What turns anger into action?
Mostly cognitive control, or to use a less technical term, self-control. About a year ago I was in Davos at the World Economic Forum, and we had a dinner-with-talks on intelligence. University of Michigan professor of social psychology Richard Nisbett, the world's greatest authority on intelligence, plainly said that he'd rather have his son being high in self-control than intelligence. Self-control is key to a well-functioning life, because our brain makes us easily susceptible to all sorts of influences. Watching a movie showing violent acts predisposes us to act violently. Even just listening to violent rhetoric makes us more inclined to be violent. Ironically, the same mirror neurons that make us empathic make us also very vulnerable to all sorts influences.

This is why control mechanisms are so important. Indeed, after many years of studies on mirror neurons and their functioning we are shifting our lab research to the study of the control mechanisms in the brain for mirror neurons. If you think about it, there must be control mechanisms for mirror neurons. Mirror neurons are cells that fire when I grab a cup of coffee (to give you an example) as well as when I see you grabbing a cup of coffee. So, how come I don't imitate you all the time? The idea is that there are systems in the brain that help us by imitating only "internally"—they dampen the activity of mirror neurons when we simply watch, so that we can still have the sort of "inner imitation" that allows us to empathize with others, without any overt imitation.

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more at the link

A question: Could the roots of sympathy that seem (at least to me) to predominate more in Progressives than Conservatives also lead many Progressives to unconsciously favor more gun regulations?

[deathrind]

1. Emotions...

I have often wondered this myself. We all get angry but most of us don't take action in it.

IMO It starts with the emotion of a given situation. If you don't have the ability to control the emotion and allow it to magnify to the point you take action on it the next step is the ability to do so. This is why controls are needed.

Trump is a great example of emotion run wild and impulsive actions and why so many think it is a very bad idea for him to have access to nuclear codes.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

2. So what kind of "controls"?

Should one of the controls be a self-control test?

(Trump should fall in a hole.)

[Eleanors38]

3. Perhaps these "mirror neurons" are the base elements of social conformity as well as civility.

In a political sense, not many "liberal" folks would own up in mixed company to conformity; creativity and artistic abilities would be on the block. Yet the two-way mirror may equate conformity with civility in the social order.

I think "liberal" mindedness has created cultural norms which assuage our misgivings about civility and conformity. It's OK to go topless at Eeyore's Birthday, but not to yell the "N" word on a public sidewalk. The more developed these cultural norms, the more diversions or tolerance when faced with a social control problem. In fact, these created cultural norms and mores can be its own mark of strength, as opposed to the more violent or macho tendencies we believe characterize "conservative" types.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

5. It's is an odd mix of what has developed as acceptable and abhorent

Some of these in response to the mistreatment of others or of minority groups and some in response to others lack of a response.

Here on DU some jury alerts demonstrate a level of derision toward another that include an accusation questioning the roots, motives and allegiance of well known and long established members. Disparagement is acceptable for those who espouse non-comforting ideas.

OTOH there are examples of extraordinary sympathy and many folks real efforts to help those around them.
For example: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018887672

[Nuclear Unicorn]

4. Does matter move the mind or does the mind move matter?

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

6. Obviously both

In the Sapir–Whorf hypothesis it is postulated that one's command of language (or lack thereof) has an effect on his perception of the world around him. The very information of the signs of madness and detachment from reality have become both more accepted and less familiar to us all. Is Hamlet still a mandatory study in this age revisions in teaching theory? In his vacillation over revenge, six others are die.

If we accept that the actions of others in the world around us can influence our own levels of aggression, hostility and violence, can we justify a 'self-control test' to determine things about an individual's psychological make up that are predictive of aspects of an innate killer instinct, self-harm and social normality?

If we answer yes for those seeking to acquire weapons, shouldn't we answer yes for everyone? We have far more suicides than murders and since all deaths are a loss, should everyone be examined for these problems and deficiencies?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

7. If we answer "yes" we have to apply that assumption to those who

presume to wield power, even in the name of keeping everyone safe.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

8. Well obviously!

"If we answer yes for those seeking to acquire weapons, shouldn't we answer yes for everyone?"

Murder and suicide are being highlighted by the regulation happy camp. If they (murder and suicide) are the impetus, then everyone needs to be studied. Leaders and law enforcement first and most especially.