why do men kill their families?

[DanaC]

There's probably all sorts of complex psychological reasons for someone to kill their family. If I recall correctly from the last time this topic came up men are far more likely to kill their whole family than women. As I also recall, where women kill their children there is usually mental illness involved (such as post natal depression of a severe kind) whereas men who kill their families are more likely to be acting on different impulses, not governed by insanity.

Why would those men kill their families? Like I said, there are probably all kinds of psychological factors, but mainly I think its because we are at our core, just another animal. Look at the animal kingdom and you will find plenty of murderous mums and dads.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by DanaC

If I recall correctly from the last time this topic came up men are far more likely to kill their whole family than women.

Perhaps that is because women are typically smaller than their male counterparts and don't usually kill by the same means. Women tend to use drowning or drugs to murder their children. Men on the other hand are far more likely to murder with a weapon like a knife or gun.

Originally Posted by DanaC

As I also recall, where women kill their children there is usually mental illness involved (such as post natal depression of a severe kind) whereas men who kill their families are more likely to be acting on different impulses, not governed by insanity.

FAIL! Sorry, first off, no one murders their children without severe mental illness involved. Secondly, perhaps women are more open in sharing emotional things beforehand and thats why their diagnoses are more readily defined, categorized than mens.

[wolf]

Originally Posted by classicman

FAIL! Sorry, first off, no one murders their children without severe mental illness involved.

Tain't necessarily so.

Or, perhaps the answer is "depends on how you define mental illness."

Being a self-centered bitch is not a mental illness.

(Susan Smith, Casey Anthony)

[jinx]

Originally Posted by wolf

Tain't necessarily so.

Or, perhaps the answer is "depends on how you define mental illness."

Being a self-centered bitch is not a mental illness.

(Susan Smith, Casey Anthony)

Diane Downs...

People who are truly crazy aren't responsible for their actions, don't understand right/wrong. Personally, I don't want to see "crazy" people getting away with murder just because they fit C'mans definition of nuts.

Ranting that someone who has murdered their kids is crazy reminds me of Chris Rock ranting about niggers... "I take care of my kids..."

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by jinx

People who are truly crazy aren't responsible for their actions,

I don't buy that for one minute. They are completely responsible. They just have to pay for their errors differently.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by wolf

Being a self-centered bitch is not a mental illness.

HA! I beg to differ. [/sarc]

[wolf]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

HA! I beg to differ. [/sarc]

Beg away. I get off on that.

[lumberjim]

Originally Posted by classicman

Perhaps that is because women are typically smaller than their male counterparts and don't usually kill by the same means. Women tend to use drowning or drugs to murder their children. Men on the other hand are far more likely to murder with a weapon like a knife or gun.


FAIL! Sorry, first off, no one murders their children without severe mental illness involved. Secondly, perhaps women are more open in sharing emotional things beforehand and thats why their diagnoses are more readily defined, categorized than mens.

SHITTY

I don't like that. I don't care what the rest of the post says.....that is rude.

[OnyxCougar]

Originally Posted by DanaC

but mainly I think its because we are at our core, just another animal.

No, no, no! Humans are *not* animals. Never were. That is a bullshit, cop out, Evolutionary response.

Nothing personal, Dana, it really isn't; believe what you want, but stuff like that hits my button every time.

(ETA)
If your theory of humans are just animals at their core, and you want to look to animal behavior for "proof", then it really doesn't matter why people do what they do. They do it because it's "natural to do it. Animals frequently kill their offspring, and no one calls them crazy, it's just what they do.

[DanaC]

Originally Posted by OnyxCougar

No, no, no! Humans are *not* animals. Never were. That is a bullshit, cop out, Evolutionary response.

Nothing personal, Dana, it really isn't; believe what you want, but stuff like that hits my button every time.

*smiles* I don't take it personally Onyx.

You are wrong...but then I would say that, wouldn't I?

[OnyxCougar]

Originally Posted by DanaC

You are wrong...but then I would say that, wouldn't I?

Yup, that's why I love you! You stick to what you believe in! :P

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by OnyxCougar

(ETA)
If your theory of humans are just animals at their core, and you want to look to animal behavior for "proof", then it really doesn't matter why people do what they do. They do it because it's "natural to do it. Animals frequently kill their offspring, and no one calls them crazy, it's just what they do.

I'm very strongly with Dana on this. Whether we want to believe it or not, our personality and actions are largely dictated by conditioning. Some animals can be conditioned very efficiently and some can not. Dogs can be domesticated to the point where they are completely non-violent. We can do the same to humans. We can train a dog to be a blood thirsty killer. We can do the same to humans.

We are obviously much more complex then dogs and possess a decently rational thought process but it is impossible to ignore that people who are raised under completely different ideals are completely different people.