Can the human mind just "snap"?

[iamukera]

After the tragic event that occurred in Cumbria, England, where Derrick Bird murdered twelve people and then committed suicide, I found myself asking whether or not it is possible just to lose your sanity and either direct harm towards yourself or others.

An interesting part of the Telegraph article states this:

A fellow taxi driver, who did not want to be named, said Bird had argued with colleagues on the evening before the attack three of his colleagues had been shot, two fatally.

He said: "All of the taxi drivers were friends. But I heard last night there was an argument on the taxi rank.

"I don't know what caused it, but something must have happened last night. Derrick Bird took off in his car and went home. I don't know what time of night it was."

Could this simple argument have pushed Bird over the edge, so deep into insanity that he killed his own twin brother? Or was there a rage building up inside of him that was finally unleashed?

We could compare this to other murder cases, such as the case of Thomas Hamilton, who murdered sixteen school children and a teacher. This case was seemingly random, the only part that made sense was that Hamilton attacked children because he was seen as a paedophile to some members of his community, but why take it so far? Surely such an disgusting act of violence would have a huge motive? Is it possible just to feel so much hatred and rage that you attack people at random?

The mind must truly be lost.

 

After the tragic event that occurred in Cumbria, England, where Derrick Bird murdered twelve people and then committed suicide, I found myself asking whether or not it is possible just to lose your sanity and either direct harm towards yourself or others.

An interesting part of the Telegraph article states this:

Could this simple argument have pushed Bird over the edge, so deep into insanity that he killed his own twin brother? Or was there a rage building up inside of him that was finally unleashed?

The mind must truly be lost.

Human action is purposeful behaviour.
http://mises.org/books/humanaction.pdf (first chapter)

That he undertook several complex purposeful steps suggest general sanity of mind. The means by which he arrived at ultimate ends which required the killing of 12 people and himself is another matter entirely.

 

[Zreking]

Personally, if the guy was sane his whole live, then randomly decided to take deadly agression towards others, he must of been very upset, or taken some drugs. To kill your own brother, especially a twin? You've to be a bit crazy.

But also, maybe he loved his brother and knew was going to kill himself, and he wanted his brother to come to "heaven" with him. You never know.

It's strange what goes on in some peoples heads.

 

[blindkilla]

Our mind is very complex, and capable of almost anything (realistically speaking, I don't mean move things with our mind).

 

[bad_moose]

I'm not sure whether it can just snap to be honest. Personally, I am very good at controlling my anger. I have never been violent towards others when angry (Unless they have been violent first), and I find it difficult to believe that you can get wound up enough to just go completely crazy. I think Derrick Bird was responsible for his actions, he just didn't consider the consequences and the results of what he was doing.

 

[clack1]

I think anybodys mind can just snap depending on the shit they hav to go through which really destroys the mind untill breaking point.

 

[kizza94]

I find it difficult to believe that you can get wound up enough to just go completely crazy. I think Derrick Bird was responsible for his actions, he just didn't consider the consequences and the results of what he was doing.

i agree 100% with that
evidently the mind can snap, i find the brutal nature of the massacre very very disturbing
i think the fact that he had a gun also gave him the confidence to "snap" and carry out his revenge (he was arguing with friends)

 

[bad_moose]

i agree 100% with that
evidently the mind can snap, i find the brutal nature of the massacre very very disturbing
i think the fact that he had a gun also gave him the confidence to "snap" and carry out his revenge (he was arguing with friends)

Yeah, that makes sense. It's not as if anger causes you to do certain things without meaning to. You always make the decision to to whatever you do. If it was possible for anger to take control of you, and make decisions for you, then every criminal in the entire world would be able to avoid being punished for committing crimes by just saying 'I got angry and wasn't able to stop myself'.

 

[Coreyy]

Certain events can change the mind over time. I'm sure there were signs, and he planned it in his mind. He convinced himself it was the right thing to do at the time.

 

[Herola14]

Yes sad but true.


Even some medication can cause people to go insane...wanting to kill people.
(Some anti depressives can cause this.)

 

[Feren Silver]

I can actually relate to a real life experience regarding a family friend. I believe that a person can't just snap.

The instance I encountered, I thought that was the case, but it wasn't. It almost always ends up that something in their life comes to the spotlight and is the cause (i.e. abusive life in another country with an ex-husband).

The person has not recovered 100% and rarely ever seems to be there.

 

[Coagulation]

This happens a lot: a person murders someone but pleads they did it out of emotional distress.

So yes it is possible.

 

[account creations]

Our mind is very complex, and capable of almost anything (realistically speaking, I don't mean move things with our mind).

Could actually be possibel we've unlocked barely a scratch of what potentail of the human mind.

OT: Sometimes i wonder, like whats going through there mind and i fell sorry for them that they got this way

 

[¥The Irish Pker¥]

I don't believe it to be possible for the human mind to be able to just "snap" everyone has full control over every action and thought they do. Sanity and insanity are just excuses.

 

[AAMagenta]

I think people are just angry about other things and then another thing comes along and then they are like Screw This is just turn inot a monster.

 

[mrincredbl]

the guy probaly has had trouble his whole life
he was probaly abused as a kid and it is proven that kids who are treated badly they genarly behave worse
so thats just what i think

 

[Psychomantis]

If he was a sociopath, he wouldn't have to snap, all he would have to do is act.