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Tobin S.

(10,420 posts)
3. I'm reading a very good book right now called "The Science of Evil" by Simon Baron-Cohen
Sat Apr 21, 2012, 03:30 PM
Apr 2012

I'm only about half through it, but so far I would highly recommend it for people trying to understand why some people do very bad things. It may turn out that it's all biologically determined by abnormalities in the brain, which is what also causes mental illnesses or, more accurately, brain disorders.

It seems to be much easier to feel empathy for a person who is suffering from any other disease than a brain disease. Most people still don't understand that mental illnesses are biological in nature. They don't understand that a person who is in the throes of a brain disorder has no choice but to behave strangely and every once in a while criminally. People think that there is some kind of choice involved when you have a brain illness; that it's just a matter will power to overcome it. That's like telling someone with heart disease to think their way out of the illness. See how ridiculous that sounds?

Because of this ignorance, I do not find fault with most people who are biased against mentally ill people and respond the way that you described in your OP. I know that most of them just don't know any better and this group we are posting in is also a place where people can come to be informed. It's just a matter of getting the word out.

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