We all know the script very well. It’s constantly drummed into our heads that our beloved Jamaica, based on the size of its population, has one of the highest murder rates in the world. As a matter of fact, this grim statistic was again just thrown in our faces by the Independent, a British newspaper, which under the title ‘Sun, sand and savagery’ says: “With an annual murder rate of around 1,500, Jamaica is one of the world’s most violent countries, on a par with South Africa and Colombia.” (March 10, 2015)

Now, if we think this article is just beating up on the country, Jamaica Observer columnist Mark Wignall, in January 2015, agonising over the murder rate, said: “In the last seven days, there have been over 21 murders in the month of January. Wish I were that guru who could tell you I definitely know what is the cause of most murders in Jamaica. Even though I do not have those capabilities, something tells me that, in our rush to stab someone and shoot them, at the root of it cannot be plain wickedness, as there must be the element that, if justice is denied me, I have a duty to seek it on my own terms.” (Thursday, January 8, 2015)

So the Jamaican public knows only too well what’s going on and are pretty fed up with the murder rate. They see the efforts of the Justice Minister Mark Golding, National Security Minister Peter Bunting, and the police high command as inadequate to stem the flow of blood of innocent Jamaicans. Frequently, the editorials of the Observer, and columnists, beg Jamaicans to stop murdering their fellow citizens. But their impassioned appeals seem to fall on deaf ears.

Types of murders

Now, murders or homicides in Jamaica take many different forms, and there are different types of murderers. The murders that we are talking about here is that which is intentional and/or unlawful. This is, death purposefully inflicted on a person by another person.

We are all well aware that there are large numbers and types of murders in Jamaica. But what we don’t know fully is why people really commit murders . Now, to find out, we have to classify murders in two broad categories:

1. Reactive murders: These are caused by acts of passion, anger or rage. These are hot-blooded murders which are not usually planned in advance. So someone gets into a fit and kills another person, sometimes over a trivial thing.

2. Proactive murders: These are pre-planned and are carried out with a brutal and deadly ruthlessness. These are cold-blooded murders, and are done by psychopaths.

Professor Fred Hickling, that distinguished Jamaican psychiatrist. makes mention of this type of murder which is very commonplace in Jamaica. He says: “Psychopaths have severe personality disorders. They have no conscience, they have no boundaries, and they are completely narcissistic. A narcissist puts him or herself right in the centre of the universe and nothing else exists in the universe except those issues around themselves …”. (www.jamaicaobserver.com, August 22, 2011)

Accountability

However, regardless of the type of murders that take place, whether hot-blooded (rage and anger) or cold-blooded (pre-planned, or serialised), we must begin to understand that these types of murders are committed not because murderers are necessarily “wicked” — although their acts are very wicked and evil in themselves. I say not ‘necessarily wicked’, because oftentimes, even the vilest of murderers will tell you after they have finished their dastardly acts that they don’t know why they did it; that in fact, they didn’t do it; that they “heard voices” in their head; or someone or something forced them to do it. But, despite their protestations of lack of free will, we hold them accountable for their wicked actions, and they must be dealt with by the law, and made to pay for their crime. Importantly, too, victims or relatives of victims of crime must be compensated for the hurt and pain they suffer.

However, lots of murders take place under the influence of, say, drugs and alcohol, and use of other psychotropic substances; schizophrenia, mental illness, and other chemical disorders or malfunctions of the brain lead people to commit murders. So, to this extent, many murderers carry out their nefarious actions due to diminished responsibilities.

Nature versus nurture

Now, if we are to understand the incidence or prevalence of murders in Jamaica, we have to begin to look at:

1. the mind, or more precisely, the brain of the murderer

2. the environment of the murderer

So, two things are at stake here: genetics and the environment.

Where genetics are concerned, increasingly, clinical research is showing that ‘reactive’ and ‘proactive’ killers have abnormal brain chemistries which predispose them to violence and murder. So they examined the brains of killers using pet scans (positron emission tomography); these scans provide information in real time as to how the brain processes stimuli as they are fed to it. As the brains of killers are scanned, it was found that there are two areas of the brain that are involved in murders. One area is the amygdala (pron imigla), and the other, is the pre-frontal cortex.

The amygdala is the emotional centre of the brain which deals with aggression. And the pre-frontal cortex is a higher part of the brain that controls emotions. Now, with reactive murderers (those who get into a rage and kill), such people are unable to control the amygdala (their emotions or aggressions). This lack of self-control by their faculties or by the censoring mechanism found in the pre-frontal cortex allows them to go berserk and kill.

On the other hand, the proactive or psychopathic killer is a calculating individual. He can, of course, use his pre-frontal cortex (reasoning faculty to control his amygdala); but, he will not, and perhaps, doesn’t want to do that. He is thus without empathy and is extremely callous. He will kill even his very own loved ones, and thinks nothing of it. He may actually get a great thrill and feel God-like because of his power over people’s lives.

Why then does he not have any regrets for his callous actions? Because, his brain chemistry,his pre-frontal cortex is so impaired, that he becomes devoid of emotions or of morality. He is remorseless; he has no conscience and no guilt. Such men are very dangerous.

Other hormones

Now, of course there are other chemical markers that cause people to murder, but that is just what they are, brain malfunctions, and/or the over-abundance, or lack of certain chemicals or hormones in the brain.

For instance, in the case of serial killers of woman, there is found to be a surplus amount of testosterone present in the male body. Then there are other chemicals like oxytocin (hormone for bonding, cooperation, etc); serotonin (neuro-transmitter which regulates behaviour in the brain); and MAOA (monoamine oxidase) enzyme, the so-called ‘Warrior Gene’: all these molecules and others, if unbalanced, contribute to people’s violent and murderous behaviours.

Of course, many of us have the biological or genetic disposition to act violently and murderously; but, we don’t? Why not? Because we have been somehow better socialised, perhaps by good family values, and by better social and community grooming, Plus, thankfully, we have not been abused during childhood. Thus, because of our more advantageous upbringing, we have a better self-image; of both ourselves and society.

Socialisation

So the story here is that, although we have some very serious psychopaths in our midst, the most that can be done for these people, if and when they are apprehended, is to treat them with the appropriate medication or diagnostic tools. But, fundamentally, if we are to stop our young people from becoming psychopathic killers, and other type of deviants, then we have to address those environmental or nurturing factors that drive them towards violence and murders.

Those environmental factors that will begin to create wholesome human beings are likely to be a good caring family, a safe neighbourhood and community. In addition, adults must instil and practise good and honest virtues; and youngsters must be given an education that’s designed to uplift them and make them productive citizens.

So by caring for our offspring, just as we would do for our plants and animals if we wish to see them strive, then we also have to provide safe emotional and environmental spaces for our kids to grow. These basic essentials will negate or override the genetic disposition towards violence and murder.

George S Garwood, is a Jamaican educator and writer. He may be contacted at: 1772gifford@gmail.com