Levi Bellfield

[chatterji]

A classic sociopath, just a tragedy that he wasn't caught sooner. Doubtless he'll try and kill himself to escape, at some point.

Interesting relationship with his mother from the sound of it.

What happens to any assets he has? Does the Crown seize them to pay for the immense cost of his life-long incarceration?

[colonel]

C'est la vie....

[tommy dickfingers]

What do you mean about his mother chatterji i've read a bit about him in the papers i know he has 11 kids from 5 women (what must they be like to put up with him)and have watched the news about this case as well.

[Arch Stanton]

A sociopath or psychopath for sure but most of them dont wield axes or kill anyone or even physically injury anyone. They can be conmen or managers from hell.

[chatterji]

The police inspector summarising the case after the trial made a comment about how close Bellfield and his mother were, and made it clear that it was not a 'normal' relationship.

Pretty standard stuff: to a man, sociopaths have severely truamatised chidlhoods and abnormal relationships with their families.

I firmly believe that aside from the clinically insane,which Bellfield isn't, sociopaths are made not born.

[Arch Stanton]

NO. The evidence suggests that a genetic disposition is a prerequisite to be a psychopath etc. A lot of people with very dysfunctional upbringings dont turn into monsters. What is necessary is a combination of genetic disposition plus dysfunctional upbringing.

[chatterji]

Sorry, but you're wrong. There is no conclusive evidence to support that contention. There is no gene for sociopathy.

'Dysfunctional' is a meaningless, blanket term. Specific environments tend to breed specific deviations, but obviously they will affect different individuals differently. For example, paedophiles tend to have been abused as children and go on to repeat that abuse. But there is no genetic predisposition to paedophilia.

[Arch Stanton]

Bollocks. There have been plenty of tests done with identical twins that show that there is a genetic factor. But science is along way from finding a psychopathic gene. But as i said, just because the psychopathic genetic disposition exists doesnt mean to say that it will actually happen unless triggered by a particular kind of dysfunctional upbringing.

Actually referring to just psychopathy or sociopathy is far too simplistic as there are about 15 recognised personality disorders listed in DSM-IV Axis II and psychopathy and sociopathy arent included by those names.