March 2008
Monthly Archive
Top 50 Geniuses Of All Time - [In A Random Order]
Drew 30 Mar 2008 | : Boost Brain Power
1) Albert Einstein - Albert Einstein is a name that comes to mind first when thinking of geniuses. Einstein’s brain was found to be deficient in certain parts, but extraordinarily powerful in others. Another trait of Albert’s brain was the fact that he had a much larger corpus callosum than the average man. The corpus callosum connects the right and left hemispheres and allows them to successfully transfer information back and forth (communicate with one another). Einstein has received the Nobel Prize in physics, was named “Person Of The Century” by Time Magazine, and has contributed phenomenal theories to the world of science (i.e. theory of relativity, unique field theory, etc).
2) Leonardo Da Vinci - Leonardo Da Vinci is considered one of the best painters of all time and possibly the most multi-talented man to have ever lived! Two of his works include: The Last Super & The Mona Lisa. Da Vinci was truly ahead of his time with ideas such as: a helicopter, a tank, solar power, a calculator, and a theory of plate tectonics. Leonardo was a unique individual who exercised the curiosity of his powerful brain.
3) Nikola Tesla- Tesla was a renowned physicist, inventor, and engineer. He has made phenomenal contributions to science and has been classified as the “world’s greatest electrical engineer.” Nikola engaged in studying many works, memorizing complete books, and supposedly had a photographic memory. Tesla had above average brain power and was an advanced thinker when compared to others of his time.
4) Sir Isaac Newton - Sir Isaac Newton was an astronomer astronomer, physicist, inventor, mathematician, and philosopher. In a 2005 poll, Newton was named more influential than Einstein in science. He has developed laws of motion, principles of momentum, and invented the reflecting telescope. Newton has had tons of great scientific achievements. His diverse list of scientific and mathematic accomplishments demonstrate the incredible ability of his brain.
5) Stephen Hawking - Hawking is known best for his theories of black holes, cosmology, and quantum gravity. He has also written several bestselling books such as: “A Brief History Of Time” and “The Universe In A Nutshell.” Though Stephen is currently bound to a wheelchair due to paralysis from Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS). Hawking has been recognized as a revolutionary thinker and one who displays above average intelligence.
6) Michelangelo - Michelangelo was a phenomenal painter, sculptor, architect, and poet. His diverse interest in art and the world really showed. He sculpted the Pieta and the David before he was 30 years old! He painted the Sistine Chapel and worked on the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. Michelangelo was a genius that was able to bring an entirely new artistic perspective from his mind to reality.
7) Archimedes - Archimedes was a Greek philosopher, engineer, inventor and astronomer. He is also considered one of the greatest mathematicians of all time. Though there isn’t a ton of documented information regarding his personal life, we do know that he has had a large impact on science and physics. Archimedes’ thoughts were clearly ahead of his time: not many would disagree that he was a genius.
8) Warren Buffet - Though Warren Buffet isn’t a big contributor to science like many other names listed, he does have a ton of knowledge about making money through investing. He is a known philanthropist (someone who donates their time & money for charitable causes) and Time Magazine has regarded Buffet as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in the world. He was also ranked by Forbes in 2008 as the richest person in the world. His company [Berkshire Hathaway] has an estimated net worth of $62 billion dollars. Warren is a very intelligent man and a financial genius.
9) Swami Vivekananda - In the Eastern world, Swami Vivekananda is regarded as a genius by many. He was one of the most influential and spiritual leaders ever and was a highly-renowned thinker. Because of his insight and unique philosophy that he had contributed to eastern religions, his knowledge and intellect will continue to be admired.
10) Samuel Johnson - Samuel Johnson is regarded as one of the biggest literary influences of all time. He was a biographer, critic, and essayist. Johnson is the highest quoted author since William Shakespeare and was one of the most influential people in the 18th century. The man invented and compiled terms for what many consider the first official dictionary.
11) Immanuel Kant - Immanuel Kant was an 18th-century philosopher from Russia. He has been considered one of the most influential thinkers of all time in Europe. Kant brought forth a unique theory of perception and thought deeply about life. Many regard Kant as a genius of his time.
12) Aristotle - Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, student of Plato and one who taught Alexander the Great. Aristotle became a great writer and is regarded as one of the most important and influential figures towards shaping Western philosophy. His works were the first to ever study “logic” and he had a profound influence on others during his time.
13) Pablo Picasso - Though Picasso may not have been an amazing scientist, his revolutionary mind forever changed the way people looked at art. He was a master drawer, painter, and sculptor. He founded “cubism” - an art style which became a huge movement in the 20th century. Pablo Picasso’s unique perception, which he expressed through his art, caused many people to view reality from a different perspective.
14) Niles Bohr - Niels Bohr was a phenomenal physicist and a highly advanced thinker. He invented the Bohr Model which is regarded as a huge contribution to atomic physics. Bohr was heavily involved with post World War II scientific issues and carried a great head on his shoulders.
15) Thomas Jefferson - Thomas Jefferson was a very brilliant individual. He was the 3rd president of the United States, wrote The Declaration Of Independence, and was the most influential Founding Father for the U.S. He influenced the republican party and was a horticulturist, statesman, architect, author and inventor. Jefferson was the founder of the University of Virginia and understood that slavery was unethical in a time when most everyone else thought it was proper. Thomas Jefferson was definitely had an exceptional brain.
16) Plato - Plato was a Greek philosopher that was taught by Socrates, but taught Aristotle. Along with Socrates and Aristotle, Plato helped lay the groundwork for Western philosophy. He was known to be a mathematician, great writer, and founded “the Academy” or “institute of higher education and learning,” in Athens. His works in philosophy, logic, and mathematics, were studied and used by many teachers after his time. Not only was Plato a revolutionary thinker, he was a genius of his time.
17) Winston Churchill - Winston Churchill was a rightfully famous British politician during World War II. He is well-known for his abilities as a great leader, speaker, officer in the British Army, a historical writer, and an artist. Churchill became a hero of his time and is considered one of the most intelligent men of his time.
18) Benjamin Franklin - Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the U.S., an author, and a printer. He was also a great politician, inventor, and scientist. Benjamin Franklin’s scientific contributions have shaped physics and the field of electricity. He invented the lightning rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove, the odometer, and the glass harmonica. Franklin created the first public lending library in the United States and first fire department in the city of Pennsylvania. Ben Franklin was a true genius of his time.
19) Thomas Edison - Thomas Edison was a great inventor and businessman who created many appliances that have had profound influence on life around the world. A couple of his inventions are: the phonograph and a long lasting light bulb. Jefferson was also one of the first inventors to apply the idea of “mass production” to the invention process. Many give Jefferson credit with creating the first ever industrial research lab. He is considered one of the most gifted inventors ever and holds over 1,000 United States patents. Edison truly added his touch of genius to the scientific community.
20) Daniel Tammet - Daniel Tammet is a high-functioning autistic savant. He has been gifted with a knack for mathematics, language learning, and above average memorization skills. He was featured on a discovery channel special that tested his abilities and showed his ability to learn arguably the toughest language, Icelandic, in less than 7 days to appear in an interview. Daniel has an incredible brain and was gifted with an above-average intellect.
21) William Shakespeare - William Shakespeare was a poet, playwright, and has been hailed “the greatest writer” in the English language and the worlds best dramatist. He has been deemed the national poet of England and his works include: nearly 40 plays, around 150 sonnets, and 2 long poems. Shakespeare’s plays have been translated into every language, and are performed more often than any other playwright. Shakespeare shed his genius-like thoughts through his complex storytelling.
22) Kim Peek - Though Kim Peek is a savant, he has some exceptional brain abilities. He is lacking a functional corpus callosum (which makes it impossible for his right and left brain hemispheres to exchange information) and has a damaged cerebellum. Without a corpus callosum, some develop above average memory abilities. In Kim Peek’s case, he can read a new book in about 1 hour and manages to retain over 98% of the information within the book! Impressive.
23) Ludwig van Beethoven - Beethoven was a German pianist and legendary musician. He was very influential in Western classical music and is thought of as the best composer of all time. Though Beethoven’s hearing began to cease in his early twenties, he was still able to create classical masterpieces. He was able to conduct, compose, and perform music even after he was completely deaf! Beethoven blessed the world with his musical genius and brilliant mind.
24) Srinivasa Ramanujan - Srinivasa was an Indian mathematician who was able to make huge contributions in the area of mathematical analysis and number theory. Srinivasa demonstrated an uncanny, natural ability to master mathematics. He had a complete math book mastered by 13, and even discovered theorems of his own. He won many awards by showing others his superior mathematical ability at his school. By age 17, this mathematical prodigy was doing his own research with mathematics and numbers. He compiled nearly 4,000 equations and identities in his short lifetime.
25) Johann Sebastian Bach - Bach was an exceptional composer and organist. He specialized in choir, orchestra, and solo instruments. He was able to enrich the German composing style with a full harmonic scale and was able to adapt rhythms from Italy and France.
26) Wolfgang Amedeus Mozart - Mozart was a very influential composer during the classical era. He was able to create over 600 compositions that were widely accepted and acknowledged. His music specialties included symphony, chamber music, piano, opera, and choral music. Mozart is among the most popular of classical composers, and many of his works are still included in concerts today. Mozart clearly demonstrated his musical proficiency and level of genius.
27) Sir Francis Drake - Drake was a famous traveler, navigator, and politician from England. He managed to circumnavigate the world in 1577 and has been proclaimed a legend in England. Drake was an exceptionally smart individual and had an estimated I.Q. of 130. Sir Francis was a powerful man that happened to have an incredibly powerful brain.
28) George Berkeley - George Berkeley was an Irish philosopher and developed a famous theory of “immaterialism.” Berkeley also published a book called “The Analyst” that would critique calculus and influence common day mathematics. University Of California, Berkeley was named after George due to his intelligence and philosophical insight.
29) Ludwig Wittgenstein - Ludwig was an Austrian philosopher that developed theories involving logic. He contributed to the philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of language, and philosophy of the mind. He has had a huge influence on philosophy and is widely accepted as one of the twentieth century’s best philosophers. Wittengenstein published 2 books and both were highly influential in philosophy.
30) Socrates - Socrates is regarded as one of the best ancient greek philosophers of all time. As teacher of Plato, he has been associated with highly advanced thinking during his time. His work continues to form much of the foundation for the study of philosophy today. Socrates has made important contributions to the study of logic and writings, and has provided a lot of groundwork that much of the Western civilization has followed.
31) Linus Pauling - Linus Pauling was a peace activist, scientist, author, and teacher. Pauling is regarded as one of the most influential chemists in history and was one of the most important scientists of all time. He was one of the pioneers to work in the study of molecular biology and quantum chemistry. He has been awarded more than 1 Nobel Prize and is one of only 2 individuals to receive them for different fields.
32) Christopher Michael Langan - Christopher Langan is an American with an IQ was reported by “20/20″ and other media sources to have been measured at nearly 200. Though he used to work as a bouncer in Long Island, he rose to fame as “the smartest man in America” in 1999.
33) Michael Faraday - Michael Faraday was a phenomenal chemist and physicist who contributed to the fields of electrochemistry and electromagnetics. His inventions of electromagnetic devices formed the foundation of electric motor technology, and it was largely due to his efforts that electricity became available for use in technology.
34) Blaise Pascal - Blaise Pascal was a French physicist, religious philosopher, and great mathematician. Pascal was a child prodigy and was taught a lot by his father. Pascal’s contributions included: mechanical calculators, concepts of pressure, concepts of vacuum, and the study of fluids. In literature, Pascal is regarded as one of the most important authors of the French classical period. His name (Pascal) has been given to the SI unit of pressure, some programming language, and Pascal’s law.
35) Galileo Galilei - Galileo Galilei was a legendery astronomer, physicist, mathematician, and philosopher. He played a major role in the scientific revolution. His achievements include the first studies of uniformly accelerated motion, improvements to the telescope, and astronomical observations. Galileo has been called the “father of modern observational astronomy”, the “father of modern physics”, the “father of science”, and “the Father of Modern Science.” With his discoveries and studies, Galileo was able to display his brilliance.
36) Martin Luther - Martin Luther was a German professor, a monk, theologian, and church reformer.
37) Robert Boyle - Was a natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, inventor, and early gentleman scientist. Boyle was largely known for his works in physics and chemistry. He is best known for the creation of “Boyle’s law.” Boyle is recognized today as one of the first modern chemists and one of the founding fathers of chemistry. One of his works, “The Sceptical Chymist” is viewed as a legendary book in the field of chemistry.
38) John Locke - John Locke was a phenomenal English philosopher. Locke’s ideas had a huge influence on the development of political philosophy and he is considered one of the most influential thinkers during the Enlightenment and one of the biggest contibutors to liberal theory. Locke’s influence is reflected in the American Declaration of Independence. Locke was the first philosopher to define the self through a continuity of “consciousness.” John Locke was an independent thinker and among the greatest philosophers.
39) Charles Darwin - Charles Darwin was a naturalist and geologist who proposed that all species of life have evolved over time. The fact that evolution occurs became accepted by the scientific community and the general public.
40) Johannes Kepler - Kepler was a German mathematician, astronomer, and astrologer. He was a huge influence towards the astronomical revolution of the 17th century. Kepler is best known for his laws of planetary motion. His laws also provided one of the foundations for Isaac Newton’s theory of universal gravitation. Kepler is regarded as a man with revolutionary thoughts towards astronomy.
41) Napoleon Bonaparte - Napoleon Bonaparte was a political and French military leader who had a huge influence on European history. Napoleon was a general during the French Revolution, Emperor of France, King of Italy, and Mediator of the Swiss. Napoleon was a very intelligent military leader who used innovative tactics and strategy to help him win many battles.
42) Garry Kasparov - Garry Kasparov was a former World Chess Champion, writer, and political activist. Kasparov was a candidate for the Russian presidential race of 2008.
43) John Stuart Mill - John Stuart Mill largely influenced British thought and politics in the 19th century. His large number of works include: texts in logic, economics, social and political philosophy, ethics, metaphysics, and religion. John Stuart Mill is recognized as one of the most intelligent men of his time and is regarded as one of the smartest men of all time.
44) Rene Descartes - Rene Descartes was an influential philosopher, mathematician, scientist, and writer. Descartes has been given the title “Father of Modern Philosophy,” and has contributed a lot to Western philosophy. His writings are still being studied today and he has had a huge influence in mathematics. Rene was a key figure in the scientific revolution and was able to share his incredible insights with others.
45) George Washington - George Washington was the first President of the United States, and lead the U.S. continental Army to defeat the British in the Revolutionary war. Washington is viewed as a symbol of the United States and republican party. He has been consistently ranked by citizens as one of the greatest presidents of the United States.
46) Miguel de Cervantes - Miguel de Cervantes was a Spanish novelist, poet, painter and playwright. He is one of the most influential and important people in literature and the leader of
47) Francois Marie-Arouet - Commonly known by the pen-name Voltaire, Francois Marie-Arouet was a French Enlightenment writer, essayist, and philosopher. He was known for his wit, defense of civil liberties, and philosophy. He was an outspoken supporter of social reform and was one of several Enlightenment figures whose works and ideas influenced important thinkers of both the American and French Revolutions.
48) Baruch de Spinoza - Baruch de Spinoza was a Dutch philosopher that was very proficient in science. Most of Spinoza’s work was not recognized until after his death. Today, Spinoza is regarded as one of the greatest 17th century philosophers. His work in philosophy laid the foundation for the 18th century Enlightenment.
49) Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz - Leibniz was a German polymath who is regarded as one of the greatest philosophers. Liebniz invented calculus
50) Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer whose works span the fields of poetry, drama, literature, theology, humanism, and science. Goethe was a key figure in German literature and the movement of Weimar Classicism in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Goethe is the inventor of the concept of “world literature,” having taken great interest in the literatures of
Popularity: 9% [?]
How I Overcame A.D.D. With A Strict Routine
Drew 10 Mar 2008 | : Boost Brain Power
Though most would agree that there is no cure for A.D.D. [attention-deficit disorder] or A.D.H.D. [attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder], I have been able to reduce mine so significantly that I consider it cured. It no longer bothers me, I no longer consider myself a person with A.D.D. I can now easily focus, and accomplish things. The progress that I’ve seen in my personal development has been huge.
It hasn’t been easy, believe me, it’s tough to stay dedicated and focused on a regimen, when A.D.D. keeps me unfocused. I really have felt a huge shift in perception and my entire state of consciousness has improved for the better. So do you want to try to cure your A.D.D. or help someone work towards reducing their symptoms? Then continue reading this article!
First of all, I want to get a few things straight. I am not anti-medication at all. I think that everyone is different and some cases of A.D.D. and A.D.H.D. are more significant than others. What I do think is that anyone that can commit to improving their mental condition on a daily basis, will be able to significantly lower or cure their A.D.D. I consider my case of A.D.D. to be average: it didn’t affect me to the point where I couldn’t get anything done, but it was definitely an impairment in life.
The method that I’m about to describe requires discipline and constant motivation. In no way has it been easy to cure my A.D.D. and unfocused thinking. In fact, it has taken around 10 months to reach the point that I’m at! If you want to change yourself for the better, it does take hard work and dedication.
The fact is, the hard work and dedication that I’ve put in has paid off immensely. Though it was extremely difficult to get into a strict daily regimen, it has improved every aspect of me. Within this article, you will find out: my personality before my regimen / experiment, my personality after 10 months (today), and why I consider my A.D.D. cured!
How did I feel before the 10 month daily regimen?
Lack of focus - Before my 10 month commitment, I really could not maintain a specific focus. I would try something new one week, then switch to a different activity the following week. Lack of focus is the primary symptom of A.D.D.
Negative thoughts - I was thinking about myself and the world in a negative light. It gets really tough to improve your situation in life when all you are able to do is think negatively. Negative thoughts lead to frustration, anger, and hate. I am so glad I was able to get out of this state.
Low self-esteem - Low self-esteem and negative thinking goes hand-in-hand. I don’t know which one came first, but am glad I was able to eliminate both! Low-self esteem lead me to become depressed.
Depressing emotions - Depressing emotions make perfect sense for a person with A.D.D. to have because most people with A.D.D. are in the “theta brainwave” state. Theta waves are linked to: creativity, spirituality, emotions, and depression.
Rapid thoughts - When you get uncontrollable rapid thoughts in your mind, it is really tough to know what you want, let alone make good decisions. Rapid thoughts around others made it extremely difficult for me to stay focused and perform well in school and work.
Zoned-out - I usually felt “zoned-out” or “blankness” in my mind at times throughout the day. This zoned-out feeling made it difficult for me to even think. It seemed as though I just “acted” and “reacted” instead of thinking through my decisions.
What were the 5 steps that cured my A.D.D.?
Listen, I’ve got commitments such as work and school like everyone else. I forced myself and my friends encouraged me to stay disciplined. If you are serious about doing this routine, then by all means: go all out and do it! If you think it will cure you in a few days, you are only fooling yourself.
To be honest, most people will commit to this as most people commit to New Years Resolutions: start a new healthy habit for a few weeks, then revert right back to the old ways. With this plan, you’ve really got to be dedicated and disciplined: 2 things that are extremely difficult for an A.D.D.’er. I don’t know which of these things were most effective, but they all have research behind them that backs their claim.
Step 1 - Daily meditation
Daily mediation seems really easy, that is, until you actually do it! I committed myself to observing thoughts in my mind for 20 minutes everyday immediately upon wake-up. I chose to do a type of meditation that involves me observing my thoughts. I chose to focus on the picture of a baseball for some reason.
Every day, I’d wake up, sit down, and focus on observing my thoughts. I didn’t react to any of the thoughts, just accepted them and let my mind flow. All that really matters when meditating is knowing what you’re doing and not reacting to your thoughts. For more information about the positive changes associated with meditation, check out my article discussing the benefits of meditation and my other article about meditation improving concentration.
Step 2 - Aerobic exercise
After doing a little bit of research about the benefits of aerobic exercise and finding that it increases brain power, improves blood flow, and can even increase I.Q., I decided that it is a must-add to my daily A.D.D. regimen. Everyday after the meditation, I ran for at least 1 mile. I kept it short and sweet at first: just 1 mile.
It was very easy, and seemed to be a very effective tactic in the process. Committing everyday to aerobic exercise is extremely difficult, but once you get past the first 2 months, it really seems to be a habit on autopilot. Now, I try to run at least 1 mile daily, sometimes I run over 1 mile.
Step 3 - Fish oil & multivitamin
I had read about fish oil and was experiencing some benefits prior to adding it to my regimen. I decided that I’d continue taking fish oil, but up the dosage to 3 capsules of 1200 mg — one at each meal. Therefore, I was getting over 3 grams daily of fish oil. For those of you that don’t know, fish oil has been linked to improved concentration, focus, and has great brain boosting potential.
I figured since I’m taking fish oil, I should also have some sort of multivitamin in the mix. I had read that A.D.D. brains are usually deficient in certain levels of vitamins. I figured that just taking 1 daily multivitamin couldn’t hurt, so I added that to the mix. Overall, I think the fish oil did a lot more than the multivitamin, but whose to say that they both didn’t help!?
Step 4 - Brainwave entrainment
Brainwave entrainment is definitely a touchy subject. It should not be done if you are pregnant epileptic or under 18 without doctor approval. It has been proven to be very safe, but there are certain regulations that you should follow before engaging in brainwave entrainment. I actually did a lot of experimentation, because I had read that everyone’s brain is different.
What was really effective for me was doing some 40 Hz gamma entrainment and some beta SMR (12 - 15 Hz). 40 Hz has been linked to increased intelligence, improved thinking skills, and a number of positive changes. I have also read in the book “Getting Started With Neurofeedback,” that most people with A.D.D. had relatively high amounts of theta activity and virtually ZERO beta SMR (12 - 15 Hz).
I stuck with gamma daily for 30 minutes while I was listening to music. A really cool program called “mind stereo” allowed me to get the effect of brainwave entrainment without hearing annoying tones and only hearing my music. It has been proven to work and I could definitely feel a change after doing this! After doing 40 Hz for a few weeks, I decided to try some beta SMR.
The beta SMR made me calm, quiet, and helped with clearer thinking. I personally have had good experiences with both. I still experiment with the software programs to change my brainwaves on a weekly basis now. For the first three months, I was doing them daily! Looking back at my progress, brainwave entrainment was definitely a key to my success!
Step 5 - Waking up at the same time everyday
Yes, I always tried to get a good amount of sleep. The best tactic though, for reducing my A.D.D. symptoms was waking up at the same time everyday! I tried Steve Pavlina’s technique to become an early riser. I always used to sleep in and be running late for work and school. It was important for me to wake up earlier each day, eat a good breakfast, and take my time in the morning.
Waking up early and at the same time, greatly helped me stay more organized, and really did help out a lot by improving my alertness! As soon as I’d awaken each morning, I’d go right into 20 minutes of meditation and from the meditation into an aerobic workout if I had time. If I wasn’t able to do my aerobic workout in the morning, I’d fit it in after work or school.
How do I feel today after 10 months of disciplined commitment?
Improved focus - I can now focus extremely well in any area of life.
Increased awareness - I am now much more aware of myself and my actions as well as others.
Increased self-esteem - I feel better about myself and am not as fearful of new situations.
Clear thinking - I now notice that I can focus on each individual thought in my mind, rather than having to deal with extreme racing thoughts or pure “blankness.”
Better memory - I don’t know what caused this, but I never used to remember things in my long-term memory much. Now, I can recall events that happened long-ago and relate them to the present.
Positive thinking - No I don’t think positively all the time, but I’m human. Everyone gets mad or upset from time-to-time. The great thing is, I am not constantly thinking negative thoughts about myself and others! I feel good about myself and am able to make a conscious effort to stay positive.
Can everyone cure their A.D.D. with these 5 daily steps?
I could elaborate on each item in my regimen and claim that they will cure your A.D.D., but I don’t know you, how severe your A.D.D. is, or what you’re capable of! And to be completely honest, I don’t think everyone can cure their A.D.D. Some people will never be committed enough to a specific set of rules to live by.
Some friends that I know have A.D.D. and take medications as needed. I let them know about what worked for me. Most of them tried it for a few days and couldn’t continue. Though most did say that while they were doing the regimen, they did notice slight improvements in focus…
Basically, the experience is different for everyone. If you want something new to try to help your A.D.D., I highly recommend trying my daily commitment and evaluating your personal change. Not only is this a great routine to have for people with A.D.D., it’s a great routine for anyone to try to improve their mind and their life!
Popularity: 4% [?]
Inside The Brain Of A Killer: Help Prevent Violence
Drew 09 Mar 2008 | : Boost Brain Power, Uncategorized
A violent brain is caused by a combination of factors: some environmental, others genetic. It is extremely difficult to pinpoint one area of a person’s life that causes them to act violent. Violence is constantly all over the news, media, and has been the unfortunate cause of school shootings.
While most people (myself included) prefer not to watch the news coverage of negative acts of violence in our society, it is not a problem that can easily be ignored. There are always ways that we can help each other and one of the ways is helping others boost their brain power! To get an idea of where violence comes from, I did a little bit of research.
Some quick facts about violence:
- Violence is caused by a complex combination of factors - Violent behavior is never caused by just one factor. Violence is the result of an extremely complex combination of things including: neurotransmitter levels, brainwaves, brain anatomy, past experiences, genetics, social influences, and other environmental factors.
- Men are more at risk for physical violence - Research has proven that men are more at risk for being involved in violent behavior or lash out with aggression than women. So if you’ve ever heard the stereotype that “boys are more aggressive than girls,” it’s true. Women don’t lash out with physical aggression as much as men do. Women have a tendency to use negative verbal comments and “trash talk” one another when getting angry.
- Violence caused by abnormal frontal lobe - An abnormal development of the frontal lobe, specifically the prefrontal cortex results in less emotional control and less control of impulsive action. Criminals tend to have brain development problems and actually have less brain activity in their prefrontal cortex than others. The less activity in their frontal lobe results in the inability to control their violent urges.
- The limbic system plays a role - Also, the limbic system, or emotional center of the brain, may be abnormally developed. Specifically, the communication between the hippocampus and the amygdala. This results in lack of proper emotional processing.
- Do criminals even have control? - If violence is hardwired into the lives of people through so many complex factors, do violent people even really have control of their actions and of their life? Many experts still ask the question and still debate whether a certain criminal actually had “free will” when committing a crime!
What drives a person to kill for little or no obvious reason?
Why do so many criminals return to prison for the exact same crime after getting released? Researchers know that many complex risk-factors like childhood trauma, inherited tendencies, and negative experiences can all shape a person’s behavior patterns. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin have examined antisocial behavior and how it relates to violence. What did they find?
Researchers found that people of antisocial behavior fall into 2 distinct groups:
- Most are between 13 and 15 years old, beginning the teenage years and new neural growth.
- A small minority show signs of extreme antisocial behavior throughout childhood: in some cases, as early as age 5 that continues throughout their adult life.
Repeat criminals offer cues. They found that repeat-criminals or offenders usually: cannot control their urges, have a low tolerance for frustration, are antisocial, have a lowered I.Q., and are extremely impulsive. Repeat criminals are unable to control their urges. When prisoners were questioned as to why they committed the same crime, they responded “I don’t know.” Even though they knew the consequences and resolved to act with greater self-control, they weren’t able to control impulses.
Prefrontal and Orbitofrontal cortex offers clues. Some neuroscientists think that the orbitofrontal cortex, a specific part located in the prefrontal cortex where decisions are made, has less activity than normal individuals. The primitive brain regions of the hypothalamus and the amygdala seem to be in overdrive, which causes aggression. If there is some sort of communication blockage in the brain between the prefrontal lobe and the primitive brain regions, the individual may be unable to control his or her emotional reactions. PET scans of inmates’ brains were taken and those that “killed on impulse” showed less overall metabolic brain activity in the prefrontal region.
Men are more susceptible. For some reason men are much more susceptible for being involved in acts of violence. In fact, being a male is the strongest risk-factor for being violent. Stats show that males commit the majority of physical assaults. According to the F.B.I., roughly 90 % of all 2004 murderers were men Men also were responsible for roughly 82 % of all violent crimes that resulted in arrest.
Are women perfect? Women are not as unaggressive as popular stereotyping suggests. However, women usually are more indirect and “hold in their aggression” better than men. Men are much more likely to act on a physically aggressive urge to cause harm to another. The cause of these differences can be due to many societal factors (i.e. “girls don’t fight” and “boys can fight to settle this”). Girls also have a tendency to develop earlier social intelligence than boys, which helps to prevent impulsive urges to fight.
The testosterone connection. It turns out that the sex hormone testosterone offers some clues. In a wide-variety of animals, male aggressiveness is linked to testosterone. In humans, researchers have proven that violent people tend to have elevated levels of testosterone, when compared to peaceful criminals. Testosterone increases during competitions like football games, hockey games, or basketball games.
Testosterone levels reach their maximum during mid 20’s (the age group that is most linked to violence). Studies were conducted on women inmates’ testosterone levels as well. The exact same connection as men was found: more violent women had higher levels of testosterone. As you can see in the article 50 things that kill brain cells, elevated testosterone levels is at # 20.
Head injuries or tumors. People that suffer head injuries or develop brain tumors can also become more susceptible to violence. Not all people that have head injuries or tumors do, but if the injury or tumor affects certain areas of the brain, they definitely can develop violent behaviors.
Low levels of serotonin. Lowered levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin have been linked not only to violent crime, but the male population in general. Serotonin is linked to relaxation, the 10 Hz Alpha brain wave, and a sense of peace with yourself and the world. When it is lowered, stress can overtake the brain and cause things like depression and anxiety.
Brains of psychopaths. When compared to criminals that killed on impulse, the brains of successful psychopaths (i.e. those that planned out their crimes) showed almost 23 % more gray-matter when compared with the impulsive criminals. Testing and research also showed that the frontal cortex of successful psychopaths performed “better than average on a variety of neuropsychological tasks.
Abnormal activity in the limbic system and amygdala has been linked to successful psychopath behavior. When the amygdala isn’t properly functioning, individuals become more antisocial, unable to feel empathy, guilt, or other emotions.
Some signs that a person may be violent:
- Anti-social behavior - Anti-social behavior is a sign that someone needs some friends and some help. Yes, some people are introverted and non-violent. A violent person usually has more than just “antisocial behavior” as a sign.
- Aggressive behavior - Aggressive behavior that causes physical or verbal damage to another needs to be dealt with and is a sign that a person is violent. If someone is consistently harming others whether it be with words or punches, it’s a sign that the person needs some support and help!
- Short-temper - Anyone can be short-tempered at times. When a person is constantly short-tempered and ready to snap at others (i.e. always takes a joke seriously) then there is a problem.
- Impulsive action - Impulsiveness means that a person acts on their emotions without thinking through the consequences. Impulsiveness is a common trait of violent people.
- Breaks laws - If someone is constantly breaking laws, rules, and regulations, there is definitely a likely possibility that they are violent and need some sort of support.
- Makes threats - Someone who makes threats to harm others or even themselves really needs some psychological help. Do them a favor and check into things you can do to help them out!
What you can do to help prevent violence in an at-risk person’s life:
- Be around for emotional support - The absolute best thing you can do to make a difference in anyone’s life is to be around for emotional support. Violent people need someone to talk to even if they may not show it. Ask them to talk sometime and hang out with them. Most violent people have been socially isolated for awhile. Be around to help - deep down they’ll definitely appreciate it.
- Monitor their daily activities - To ensure the safety of themselves and others, try to monitor their life as much as possible. Make sure they are getting involved in the community and are not locking themselves away in a room. Try not to come off as a “snoop” or nosy person, but don’t be afraid to monitor activities. It is much better to prevent violence before it starts.
- Get them extra help in school - School may be the most difficult place for the at-risk person. He or she may not have many friends and may truly need some in-school-intervention. Step up to the plate and notify a counselor or school psychologist of a person’s violent tendencies.
- Get them involved at church - Getting involved at church is always positive because the person at-risk will be able to interact with other members of the community and feel appreciated for his or her contribution to the community. Church is also great because it brings forth hope in their lives. When they are able to shift their focus from negativity to having faith in God or another form of spirituality, it could really help turn their life around!
- Push them to interact with positive social groups - Having a positive social group can make a huge difference in your life and your brain. Being around negative people trigger stress-related hormones and make people feel sad, depressed, insecure, and anxious. Hanging around a positive social group is stimulating, fun, adventurous, and can really make a person better. Most people share similar characteristics of the people that they hang out with. Get the at-risk person around a positive crowd.
- Help them build healthy friendships - Having close friends is also a huge part of staying healthy and preventing violence. Building healthy friendships shifts focus away from violence and towards conversation, activity, and feelings of well-being. It is important to help the at-risk person hang around people with healthy lifestyles.
- Have them try brainwave entrainment - Violent people tend to have certain sets of brainwaves that are different than the rest of the population. Since most lack activity in the prefrontal lobe, some beta brainwave training may greatly help them think through their decisions. Another brainwave rhythm that my help them out greatly is the alpha brainwave. 10 Hz is considered the safest brainwave frequency and may actually do them a world of good. Let them experiment with the brainwaves to see which ones work best. I do encourage you to check out the brainwave entrainment products in my “recommended products section” and at least give them a free trial if you are eligible. I am not a medical professional, so do some more research and see a licensed practitioner if you have any questions or concerns about brainwave entrainment.
- Have them talk to a therapist - There are some great therapists out there, though you may have to do a little digging to find a therapist that your child or friend likes. It may take some work to find the best therapist to fit the “violent person’s” specific needs, but once the person finds the proper therapist, it may make a world of difference and help turn their life around!
- Try to get them to take fish oil - I believe I’ve previously emphasized just how big of an impact fish oil has made in my life and the positive changes I’ve seen from fish oil. Show them the article: Take fish oil to boost your brain’s performance if they do not believe the tremendous benefits it can have in their life. It may be a challenge to get them to take fish oil for a day, let alone a month, but every bit is better than nothing at all! For those of you that haven’t read my article discussing fish oil, I highly recommend you check it out! Fish oil has been proven to improve mood, increase focus, and boost overall brain power.
- Have them volunteer - Though they may not be interested in volunteering, try to encourage it. Have them at least try volunteering once. Others will love them for helping out, they will get a chance to interact with others, and most importantly they will feel much better about themselves.
- Help them find an area of interest in life - An area of interest could be anything. Help them be productive in some way. Have them take a skills test and find out what they are good at. Maybe they really enjoy music or are a really good writer. You could even have them start a blog to document their journey, or help them blog about a topic that they love! This shifts their focus away from negativity and towards a part of life that brings them joy and satisfaction!
Are you really in position to make a difference?
If you feel that you can make a difference in an at-risk child or teenager’s life, by all means do it. If you can’t, at least do them a favor and show them 4 Mind 4 Life or an article that you think they’d find useful. You can always try to help: no matter how small the contribution you make to someone’s life, it could make a world of difference in the long-run.
My goal is to provide you with powerful, healthy, brain development tips and information so that you can improve your own life and the lives of others! Anyone is in position to make a difference by helping another person boost their brain power, work towards improving their life, and bringing forth peace and goodness instead of violence. Be bold, step-up to prevent violence, and help bring joy and peace on Earth.
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References: Scientific American Mind December 2006 / January 2007 Issue. Article: “The Violent Brain” by Daniel Strueber, Monika Lueck, and Gerhard Roth (pages 20 - 27).
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