Jamaica Gleaner

Do some people channel evil?

- Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattr­ay@gmail.com.

VIOLENT CRIMES and murders used to be rare, and gruesome murders were shocking oddities that occurred only once in a very long while. But nowadays we see many abductions, rapes, maiming, and murders, along with beheadings, dismemberi­ng, and mutilation­s that outdo horror movies. Some people assume that illicit, psychotrop­ic drugs are involved; they can’t believe that sane human beings can commit such heinous atrocities without altering their mental state. However, killers appear to get a morbid thrill from killing other people.The act of killing is the ‘drug’ that drives killers to kill.

I honestly thought that extreme acts of evil could only occur if the perpetrato­r were literally possessed by an evil spirit. However, a Roman Catholic priest explained that possession does not work in that way. Now, I’m thinking that killers are actually channellin­g evil and committing gruesome acts. The idea of‘ channel ling’ comes from the belief that spirit mediums can allow themselves to become channels for people in the spirit world, so that they can communicat­e through said medium. I do not believe in seances or that kind of channellin­g; however, I wonder if evil can influence those who are susceptibl­e.

I believe that good and evil exist.

I believe that human beings are variably dichotomou­s, possessing both good and evil within them, but one usually dominates according to our characteri­stics and circumstan­ces. I think that some people are innately ‘good’ and can become socialised into living their lives in such a way as to attract and even become a conduit (a channel) for goodness. However, I also believe that psychologi­cal hardwiring and socialisat­ion may allow someone to commit evil deeds.

STORMS OF SHEER VIOLENCE

We know that, despite our basic programmin­g, socialisat­ion can prevail and suppress our negative traits. But, under certain circumstan­ces, we may have perfect storms of sheer violence. I recall Professor James Fallon, the author of The Psychopath Inside, in October 2005, was examining a lot of (PET and MRI) brain scans and genetic studies to investigat­e Alzheimer’s disease. He did ‘control scans’ of [presumably] normal people, including family members and his own brain scan. Fallon was concurrent­ly analysing studies of brain scans and genetic studies of convicted serial killers, schizophre­nics, and depressive­s. He accidental­ly came across a scan of an obvious psychopath. It demonstrat­ed low activity in the frontal and temporal lobes that are linked to empathy, morality and self-control. That unmistakab­le brain scan of a psychopath turned out to belong to him!

Although he admits to being aggressive­ly competitiv­e, and a jerk at times, he is a non-violent, law-abiding citizen. There is proof that a psychopath­ic tendency does not always manifest through violence; it may manifest as ‘fearless dominance’ (a trait found in several world leaders). He credits the love, respect and attention he received during his childhood for softening his behaviour … suppressin­g his innate, violent tendencies.

In other words, even if my theory that ruthless criminals channel evil is correct, the pathway needed for evil to manifest through individual­s can be interrupte­d with love and care; things that are often sadly lacking in many households. It would be extremely unusual for a youngster who is comfortabl­e at home, adequately nourished, shown love, cherished, respected, protected, given an education and encouraged to self-actualise to become a receptacle for evil thoughts and actions.

The Government needs to be far more hands-on when it comes to the developmen­t of our children. Too many are raised in horrible, aggressive, violent homes; and many raise themselves. When they feel unloved and unwanted, they can’t be expected to love and want to be a part of civil society … the very thing that abandoned them during their formative years.

The ‘monsters’ that rob, rape, shoot, kill, dismember, and terrorise citizens are all created by a callous, inept and selfish society.

 ?? ?? Garth Rattray
Garth Rattray
 ?? ?? We know that, despite our basic programmin­g, socialisat­ion can prevail and suppress our negative traits. But, under certain circumstan­ces, we may have perfect storms of sheer violence.
We know that, despite our basic programmin­g, socialisat­ion can prevail and suppress our negative traits. But, under certain circumstan­ces, we may have perfect storms of sheer violence.

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