Women who murder thier children and spouses claim post partum?

Question

So why can't men who do the same claim testosterone overload?
Why is it if a women’s hormones lead her to kill it is understandable but not for a man. Most violent men who commit crimes have high levels of testosterone and should therefore be held to the same standard as murdering mothers, right?

Answer 1

Joe - many times your questions can be thought provoking - but when you bring up questions when you honestly know nothing about what you are saying - you really lose credibility.

I understand this question stems from your last one, about the woman who murdered her husband and you made sweeping generalizations about how it is a feminist agenda & that all women can now kill their SO & get away with it...which was rediculous itself. How you are able to tie feminism into some things astounds me.

Joe, for god's sake before you send out a question, or a "statement" on a subject like this, go it in on a murder trial where a woman is accused - or any murder trial where whomever it is - is using the defense of a mental instability, regardless of gender. They spend countless hours on the medical aspect - have 3 to 4 psychologists and medical professionals that go over the person with a "fine tooth comb"

The hormones that cause depression and the like, are NOT related to the hormones that make us men & women. The elevated hormones of pregnancy trigger an effect of other hormones in the body...estrogen isn't a part of depression. It is only called post partum - because of the timing of when it starts.

Post partum depression is a REAL illness - women don't get it treated sooner because they are not aware they are having the problem - and many partners, turn a blind eye to a woman's depression - often fighting about her lack of energy or sadness, instead of actively trying to help her. Untreated, depression, without the "post partum" label - can lead to many other issues.

ANYONE with mental instabities are held to the same standard in a court of law - male or female - once it is found that they truly are ill. The fact that a case shows that a woman's depression started at the point of "post partum" is barely a factor.

So to answer your question no, high levels of testosterone is not a valid "defense" for murder - testoterone does not affect brain chemistry - it is other hormones that do that. Someone brought up "roid rage" Steroids affect more than testosterone levels - and it is the other reactions within the body that bring on the "rage".

There are plenty of other hormones that have caused men to be considered unfit to stand trial, and be held in psychological institutions instead of death row - basically considered "not guilty by reason of insanity". THEY are the ones held to the same standard.

Answer 2

There is no valid excuse to kill anyone except those who pose a direct, imminent and serious danger, including the unborn.

Using the excuse of post partum depression or past abuse or any of the many excuses some women use to deny responsibility for their actions is absurd and degrading to the intelligence of honest and decent people.

Society should demand all adults act in a civilized manner and failing that, suffer the same penalties regardless of race, sex, hormonal imbalance, background or beliefs.

On one of my periodic medical checkups, my doctor ran a whole series of tests and found my testosterone well above average, in fact, very near the upper end, yet I am very non-aggressive (not to be confused with opinionated).
I would like to hear how it is possible if high levels of testosterone cause aggression, as some believe, I am non-aggressive.

I think most people believe what they are told if it suits their prejudice.

Answer 3

No, it is completely different. All hormones are not created alike, for one thing. For another, simply claiming post-partum depression is not enough to get a woman off anyway. It is not that simple. It takes a lot more than that in evidence and causation. They have to be able to show serious mental incompetence and the inability to tell right from wrong. It is a complicated process, and the truth is that for every woman who gets off on this plea for legitimate reasons, dozens go to prison because they do not meet the requirements.

Meanwhile, there is no medical evidence whatsoever that suggests that someone with high levels of testosterone is unable to tell right from wrong. The reason is because testosterone does not cause depression or mental illness, and has no effect on a man's ability to think or reason. It can cause aggression, to be sure, but that is hardly an excuse to kill someone. "I felt aggressive, so I killed them?" Yeah, right. Just go for a run or a jog.

What I suggest is that you do some research on post-partum depression, depression in general, bi-polar disease, and mental illness. It is not as simple as you think it is.

Answer 4

Not going to mince words here at all, but what makes people assume that all mothers are cold-blooded murderers in waiting, let alone those mothers who suffer from a genuine illness such as post-partum depression? What makes people assume wrongly that all of these ill mothers want to kill their children and husbands? I don't think these mothers who do kill their children because of PPD are any greater in number than men who kill their children or wives. You may have been joking, but in my experience there's a saying that in every joke, there's a grain of truth, so you must truly have this assumption that all women suffering from PPD must be murderers. This makes me sick to be judged like this by people who obviously have absolutely no idea.

Answer 5

There actually was a case where a female serial killer killed men monthly while PMS'ing, due to hormonal changes in her body. Once they found this out, she was granted temporary insanity and given medicines.
Post partum is an actual issue. You can't disregard it, just because science hasn't discovered specifically what would cause a man(and woman) to be sociopathic. Psychotic men(and women) are given psychological treatment also, instead of death.

Answer 6

While I disagree with post partum depression as a motive for murder, You must surely know that hormone levels of either sex can be measured. The courts don't take your word for it.
Since both defenses have failed in court, the law is buying it either.

Answer 7

I knew a guy who beat up his girlfriend and put her in the hospital because of a “roid rage”. He was taking way too many steroids, and his testosterone was highly elevated.

Don’t you think this is just an excuse for a guy wanting to kill someone? Testosterone doesn’t become overly elevated naturally.

However, women’s hormones change when they have children. For some, hormones change for the worse.

Answer 8

More like most violent women should be held to the same standards as violent men.

Theres no reason that they shouldnt. Unless you believe women are "speshul."

Answer 9

that's a very good point. I think mothers who murder their children ought to take the punishment for the crime, same as any other person on earth. It is as despicable as a man preying upon the weak.

Answer 10

The only one I can think of is Andrea Yates. Why do men kill their children? Both genders are obviously very disturbed and this is not a feminist issue.