Lorri

I have to say that I share your theory on the "selfish Gene". It fits to a certain degree a theory of my own that I had come up with in regard to a friend of mine who has for some years now, completely baffled me in terms of his particular condition. He is morbidly obese and seems to be in complete denial regarding anything that he should be doing to counteract the effects of his condition. He suffers from type 2 diabetes and all its attendant complications and when I have tried to discuss measures that he may take to improve his lot he merely says that he has to die of something and he’ll be happy to go soon. He has even stated that if things get too much to bear then he will take matters into his own hands and take his own life, thus ending any possible suffering. I looked at reasons why he was in such a state and then I had the idea that perhaps it wasn’t his fault that he was in this situation….that perhaps there was a genetic predisposition to his diabetes and his illness. I took into account the following detail of his background and came up with the following premise. Both parents died from lifestyle induced deaths (Emphysema from smoking) There were four children 3 boys and a girl (the girl was adopted but also showed certain traits which I thought could have been “learned” behaviors) Both boys suffer from type 2 diabetes and exhibit an attitude of “I couldn’t care less” and have not been interested in reversing their condition or knowing the causes and possible future effects on their lives. They both were attracted to and attractive to women who were co dependant and subject to lifestyle addictions which resulted in health issues for them both. My friend’s wife was a smoker and analgesic abuser who became locked into the world of drugs and addicts after ending their marriage. His brother’s wife was addicted to sugar and subsequently suffered breast cancer. Both brothers seemed to pass on their genes to their offspring. My friend has 2 sons, one of whom became a drug addict and subsequently died from a drug overdose and the younger child suffers from a deep sense of isolation and is very antisocial, and has difficulty relating to others. He was unable to speak to his teacher for the first 2 years of his schooling so this started from a very early age. His brother’s children, 4 daughters, are all sugar addicts and their own children’s diets are awash with sugar in spite of the health warnings that are now so prevalent. The younger brother is also on a very strange trajectory in his life. He stated that if he had to work for the best things in life then he would refuse to do that and just have what he could get with as little effort as possible and has lived his life accordingly with no ambition or thought for future success. I would be interested to know if anyone else has any other theories on this phenomenon. I am not at all well versed in the psychology of the human condition but having read your paper on this subject it would seem that my friend is simply a victim of his own genetic pool and can no more change his sad situation that he can change the color of his eyes.

Hi Janielle, Nothing more than the study of my fellow human beings and their myriad and endless idiosyncrasies in the hope that one day I may be able to understand my own role in this incredible situation we find ourselves in, where we are masters of our own destiny with no handbook!

Good afternoon, I stumbled on this amazing forum by accident while looking for answers to the usual questions........"why is it so etc". My name is Lorri and I am a student of human nature! Looking forward to learning from the amazing members of this forum.