Does Culture Influence The Development Of A Sociopath?
Written by Craig Rogers, Posted on , in Section Essential Reads
Everyone is aware of the fact that sociopaths exist and by some accounts are very common. In fact, it's likely that you've met someone during your life that you suspect might be a sociopath. One of the most interesting aspect of this disorder however, is the fact that this supposedly inborn disorder is much more common in western societies than in eastern ones. One the surface this may not make sense, but a psychologist and researcher named Martha Stout has developed a theory that would explain this phenomenon. She claims that because of the individualistic nature of western culture, we make the development of sociopaths much more acute.
Why Western Culture Makes More Dangerous Sociopaths
The theory that Martha Stout has developed centers around the individualistic nature of American society influencing the development of sociopaths. She claims that the risk of sociopaths is much less in eastern societies where there is an extreme emphasis placed on collectivism. A person is taught from an early age in these cultures that cohesiveness and the well-being of the group is the of the utmost importance. This mitigates any tendencies a sociopath might have towards acting selfishly. In contrast, American culture puts the emphasis on the individual. A person is encouraged and rewarded for acting in ways that would be deemed selfish and irresponsible in other cultures. This reinforces the natural tendencies of a potential sociopath and teaches them that their behavior is acceptable.
Does Culture Influence A Range Of Mental Issues?
If we accept the premise that culture has a big impact on the development of a sociopath, then we must ask ourselves what other mental disorders might be impacted by our culture? Given the fact that there are millions of people struggling with issues like depression, this could be an area of investigation with the potential to greatly improve our society. If we were able to understand the cultural factors that influence the development of these problems, it would surely be much easier to both treat them and intervene early enough to stop their formation. Due to these potential benefits, it would be wise for us to consider futher investigations into the impact culture has in these areas.
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