Psychiatry’s Collusion with Anesthetic Culture

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Abstract

The lone mass shooter is among one of many examples of pathological behavior that can be linked to anesthetic culture. An in-depth case study of Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock will illustrate how anesthetic consciousness likely played a key role in Paddock’s violent behavior. Anesthetic consciousness can be linked to Paddock’s case, including his sociopathic father, pathological gambling, aloof social behavior, materialistic values, conformity to toxic masculine norms, and violent behavior—all associated with hypoactivity in the insula of the brain and severely impoverished empathy and sympathy for others. When Paddock’s physician prescribed him a benzodiazepine drug to treat his anxiety, this likely pushed him over the edge into violent behavior. Paddock’s case is a microcosm of a larger, problematic cultural pattern in which psychiatry tends to collude with anesthetic consciousness.

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© The Author(s) 2018

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of PsychologyPoint Park UniversityPittsburghUSA

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