Ian Brady reveals burial site.

I watched that programme, Faye, and the conclusion seemed to be that there is a gene for violence and crime, but it is usually only activated if the child is neglected, unloved or abuse.
You can find out all about Brady's childhood if you look on google. His single mother had to give him up for unofficial adoption but continued to visit him until he was 12, although she did not tell him she was his mother. The identity of his father is unknown. He was a troubled child and developed an obsession with the Nazis and sadomasochism. He served some time in prison for burglary and no doubt that fuelled his rage against society, but it was his meeting with Hindley that sealed the fate of his victims. He may not have acted alone but he enjoyed shocking and impressing her.

For those who would like to see the death penalty restored (it won't be) - how do you feel about wrongful convictions and executions? Many are known to have occurred.

That's what I thought - there is a gene but nurture can head a child off rom that tendency.

Of course. by adulthood you can't blame your behaviour on your childhood.

The death penalty will never come back. Rightly so. Would be a VERY backward step!

With that childhood background Greatnan Brady would now be diagnosed with attachment disorder - very popular at the moment. I know there is a lot of research into the effects of abuse in childhood on the development of the brain. I must confess to a certain scepticism about these studies - I find it difficult to believe that everything can be reduced to brain chemistry. How do we know what our own brain scans would look like? It seems it is only those with mental disorders or curious scientists who would have routine brain scans, although I'm sure the neuroscientist used a large control group. It seems to me that each individual is such a complex mix of biochemistry and environmental factors that we can only ever find bits of the answers. It is a fascinating subject though.

J04 proponents of attachment disorder would say that you can blame almost anything on your childhood. That's one reason why I am cautious about it - it seems to leave so little room for hope.

I believe most abused children do not grow up to be abusers. Many people who have had dreadful childhoods become happy and successful adults.
Leslie Thomas was a Barnardo's child.
I am told that my father's coldness and detachment have had a bad effect on me, making me very critical of men. However, I have five grandsons, a son-in-law and several prospective grandsons-in-law that I love dearly. I think it is men that makes me critical of men!
I cannot blame any of my mistakes or personality defects on my childhood - except perhaps that my mother did not tell me that my husband was a total bore and I should not marry him! Unfortunately, I always gave the impression of being totally in charge of my life, even at 18, and I think she (and my sister) were reluctant to interfere. They only told me what they really thought of him when I decided to leave him after 20 years.

nightowl - another reason not to trust so-called "experts".

(sorry if you are/were one!)

I would never call myself an 'expert' on anything jingl, but I'm working on it! Sadly it's a bit too late to become a brain surgeon so I will have to settle for 'expert on making mistakes'

I watched the link you sent Faye - interesting! It seems love may be even more powerful than we thought!