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Steven Pinker, a psychologist, has argued that evolution shaped the basic design of our brain, and hence our cognitive and emotional faculties. "This process has given us propensities to violence - our 'inner demons' as well as 'the better angels' of our nature" that incline us to be peaceful and cooperative. Our material circumstances, along with cultural inputs, determine whether the demons or the angels have the upper hand. I suggest that as a psychohistorian, we need to look at child rearing which has improved considerably since WW II as well as the rising political and social power of women in various parts of the world as important factors. Pinker argues that the empowerment of women does exercise a pacifying influence, and the world would be more peaceful if women who are well educated and have not suffered physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse during their formative years were in charge.
Despite Pinker's optimism, sociopathology, in its various forms, does exist and it is indeed quite pervasive throughout our society and the rest of the world. One needs to only read or watch the daily media news to confirm this reality.
For the purpose of this paper, my focus will be on sociopathic behavior which characterizes individuals with anti-social personality disorders. The essential feature of anti-social personality disorder is a chronic disregard of the rights of others - usually manifested in repetitive violations of others' rights in the form of unlawful behaviors. Most of the cardinal signals of this disorder involve aggressive or illegal activities such as repeated thefts, assaults, evasion of financial obligations, and lying. Other features include impulsivity and recklessness. The anti-social person's lack of fidelity, loyalty and honesty prevents him from forming enduring or close relationships.
SOCIALIZATION: LINKING THE INDIVIDUAL TO SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Socialization processes occur over the life course within the family, the school, among peers, the neighborhood and in the work place. "The explicit purpose and function of interactions within these contexts is to socialize and integrate individuals at the group level. The complexities of how this process unfolds over the life course are best captured in longitudinal follow up that allows researchers to examine the impact of traditional life-phase transitions. Understanding these life course transitions is important in determining...