Question

Do you think that mental illness is hereditary? why or why not?

What is the XYY defense and how could Richard Speck have used it in his defense?

Answer 1

It is a fact that mental illnesses and various psychiatric problems are inheritable. Genes are responsible for such inheritance. This inheritance becomes much more dominant if surrounding environmental conditions are also in support of such conditions.

Loneliness can increase the working of such faulty genes. Stressful life events may also ignite the working of such faulty genes inherited. If a person has family history of mental illness then in such conditions, chances of development of mental illness will be more and more.

XYY is basically related with chromosomal abnormality. We know that in males; XY chromosomes are found. In females XX chromosomes are found. If an extra Y chromosome is being found in some person then it will be counted as an abnormal situation.

This extra Y chromosome will cause more aggressive behavior in that person. It will also provide an impulsive nature to his personality. Richard Speck was a criminal who murdered eight nurses at a hospital. A man with an extra Y chromosome is said to be affected from Jacob syndrome.

Mental deficiency and extreme level of aggression are the characteristic feature of this situation. Many people claimed that XYY syndrome forced Richard Speck for his violent and criminal behavior. It was also claimed that his inheritance was responsible his abnormal behavior