There isn't a direct gene for ADHD or depression, but there is a 'sensitivity gene' that makes individuals more susceptible to stress. According to epigenetics, present and nurturing parenting in the first year of life can effectively neutralize the expression of this gene, preventing future mental illness.

Data suggests that growing up without a biological father is a stronger predictor of a young man ending up in jail by age 30 than either his race or his family's income level. This highlights a profound social crisis rooted in family structure, distinct from purely economic or racial factors.

The consistent pattern of men committing mass violence is rooted in biological evolution. Men are wired for aggression and physical confrontation, a trait historically selected for by women seeking protectors. This is a biological reality, not a surprising social anomaly.

The loss of a male role model makes a boy more likely to be incarcerated than to graduate college. The same event has almost no statistical impact on a girl's life outcomes, highlighting boys' greater neurological and emotional vulnerability.

Research shows that the same genetic predispositions for physical aggression (e.g., fighting) in boys can manifest as relational aggression (e.g., social exclusion, reputation damage) in girls. This highlights a common biological root for sex-differentiated expressions of aggression, which can be equally damaging.

In cases of extreme violence, we seldom investigate underlying biological factors unless there's an obvious "smoking gun" like a brain tumor. The discovery of a rare MAOA gene mutation causing extreme aggression in a Dutch family raises the question of how often people are labeled as "evil" without any search for an organic cause.

The crisis among young men stems from a societal narrative that pathologizes their core biological impulses. Traits like aggression, dominance, and ambition, which are natural drivers, are now deemed toxic. This creates internal conflict and a sense of worthlessness, contributing to 'deaths of despair.'

Early negative experiences, such as parental abuse, cause children to internalize blame. This creates a deeply ingrained subconscious program that they are inherently flawed, which dictates their reactions and self-perception for decades until it is consciously unraveled.

Counterintuitively, the heritability of traits like cognition and personality increases from childhood into adulthood. This occurs because individuals increasingly select and shape their own environments based on their genetic predispositions, a process that amplifies the influence of their genes over time.