Hmm, it's an interesting one, that. It does sometimes cross my mind (and as somebody who has never had or wanted children I don't feel able to be holier-than-thou about parenting) that my generation are, for the most part, the parents of these obnoxious little shits who go around 'happy slapping' people, assaulting teachers and roaming the streets in gangs, and it is tempting to conclude that parenting skills have something to do with it - although of course there are all sorts of other social factors that come into play. I think most of what is broadly classed as 'anti-social behaviour' is a mixture of nature and nurture, and any genetic predisposition will come out even more strongly in kids who grow up in an environment where crime and violence are prevalent and seen as normal. But it doesn't surprise me that there is a genetic marker for such things as lack of empathy, which is the main characteristic of psychopathic behaviour. I have seen it argued that many successful businessmen show these traits - they will trample all over other people in their quest for money and power, but of course in our society this is considered quite acceptable behaviour and is admired, so it doesn't get labelled as 'anti-social' and problematised. Another flaw in the argument your parents are making is that we are exposed to much more in the media now. In the 'good old days' before mass media, someone in London probably wouldn't get to hear about a murder in Manchester, for example - they would only know what happened in their own immediate area. And as for rape and sexual abuse, that has always happened but it just wasn't talked about because of the social stigma attached to it. I'm sure you know all this anyway, but it might help as ammunition in case the argument gets rekindled...
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It does sometimes cross my mind (and as somebody who has never had or wanted children I don't feel able to be holier-than-thou about parenting) that my generation are, for the most part, the parents of these obnoxious little shits who go around 'happy slapping' people, assaulting teachers and roaming the streets in gangs, and it is tempting to conclude that parenting skills have something to do with it - although of course there are all sorts of other social factors that come into play.
I think most of what is broadly classed as 'anti-social behaviour' is a mixture of nature and nurture, and any genetic predisposition will come out even more strongly in kids who grow up in an environment where crime and violence are prevalent and seen as normal. But it doesn't surprise me that there is a genetic marker for such things as lack of empathy, which is the main characteristic of psychopathic behaviour. I have seen it argued that many successful businessmen show these traits - they will trample all over other people in their quest for money and power, but of course in our society this is considered quite acceptable behaviour and is admired, so it doesn't get labelled as 'anti-social' and problematised.
Another flaw in the argument your parents are making is that we are exposed to much more in the media now. In the 'good old days' before mass media, someone in London probably wouldn't get to hear about a murder in Manchester, for example - they would only know what happened in their own immediate area. And as for rape and sexual abuse, that has always happened but it just wasn't talked about because of the social stigma attached to it. I'm sure you know all this anyway, but it might help as ammunition in case the argument gets rekindled...