Prompt: What have you learned from what you're reading?
This week I am reading the nonfiction book, Murderous Minds, and it is about neuroscience, and the "criminal mind." This book is really interesting but at the same time very complicated that I had to red whole pages more then three times so I could actually understand the topic. For example, in the first chapter, the author was taking about how mental illnesses play a huge role in psychotics and the reason behind the crimes they commit. He started to talk about different parts of the brain and their roles in mental illnesses. For example, he said "The loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantial nigra affects a neighboring part of the brain called the striatum, whose cells depend on dopamine to function properly." That was just one sentence and I had to read it a few times to understand, but the thing about this book is that everything is intertwined, so if you don't understand the previous sentence or even paragraph, most likely; you won't understand the next few paragraphs to come.
One of the most interesting facts that I have learned form the book so far is that "an estimated 1 out of 100 adults is a psychopath" so if you think about it, you have probably encountered a psychopath and you didn't realize it! But don't get me wrong, psychopaths don't necessarily mean killers. Even though when you hear psychopaths you think of some crazy murderer who chops off people's limbs and feeds them to his pig, "for every psychotic serial killer, there are literally millions of psychopaths who don't kill." Psychotics are people who are out of touch with reality, most likely have a mental illness and most likely have violent impulses. So in reality, you could have met a psychopath but don't think of them as killers, because statistically, it is unlikely that they are killers.
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Comments: Leanna, Marisa, and Gustavo
I thought that your blog was really interesting this week. In your first paragraph, when you put in that direct quote, I was also kind of overwhelmed and I had to re-read it a few times too. I like how you got a book that is a lot more challenging that a normal non-fiction book. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI find it really cool your reading this book because it seems very complicated and has a lot of higher level vocabulary. I like that your quotes are very effective and bring up interesting information.
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DeleteThe fact that you are reading Murderous Minds is very interesting in my opinion. I have not read the book, but I have heard of its several psychological theories and feel that it is something truly interesting. Do you by any chance have an interest in psychology or psychiatry? The entire psychopath and psychopathic killer is a rather interesting distinction in which I was never aware of! I hope you enjoy your read!
ReplyDeleteWow! I found your sentence, "...so if you think about it, you have probably encountered a psychopath and you didn't realize it!" fascinating! It is also interesting how different types of writing can challenge the brain differently. Have you finished the book yet?
ReplyDeleteI agree, Mrs. Larson, great comments (;
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