Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Bill · 07-28-2003, 04:29 AM

A man's urges to be a pedophile were apparently due to a tumor; when the tumor was removed, he stopped having "those urges;" but when it grew back, he resumed; and when the rest was removed again, he stopped again. The full article is on CNN. But here is a couple of key paragraphs:

Quote:

"This tells us something about being human, doesn't it?" Yudofsky said. If one's actions are governed by how well the brain is working, "does it mean we have less free will than we think?"

...

"Some people simply don't have the frontal lobe capacity to stop what they're doing," he said.

Human behavior is governed by complex interactions within the brain. But scientists think most "executive functions" -- decisions with major consequences -- are controlled within the frontal lobes, the most highly evolved section of the brain.

Tumors in that area can squeeze enough blood from the region to effectively put it to sleep, dulling someone's judgment in a way that's similar to drinking too much alcohol.

This case is also a challenge to the conventional wisdom of "once a pedophile, always a pedophile." It appears that this guy's pedophilia was a direct consequence of his tumor ("medical condition") and not due to any real predisposition to commit pedophilia.

== Bill

Apathist · 07-28-2003, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Bill

More evidence that the mind is affected by the brain. But it also seems to me to be evidence that normally, we have the ability to resist urges.

I'm reminded of the Phineas Gage story.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.