The Human Ape
The Fifth Great Ape
A Study of Human Behaviour from the unique perspective of Aspergers Syndrome
Early Days and Childhood
To fully understand my condition and my interactions with neurotypical humans, it is essential to outline my childhood and early years. My upbringing occurred on Hebden Avenue, a private estate situated on the western periphery of Carlisle,
Cumbria. Despite its affluence, the residents exhibited uniformly disagreeable behavior. As the families were financially secure, arguments attributing the children's behavior to impoverished socio-economic circumstances are inapplicable. While research suggests a correlation between poverty and empathy development, I contend that a capitalistic, consumeristic societal structure exerts a considerable influence on behavior, a matter I shall address subsequently.
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The children on the estate exhibited a marked degree of linguistic and emotional illiteracy. Mirroring other human social structures, they established a hierarchical system wherein status was determined by either physical violence or relative parental affluence.
The best way to describe Hebden Avenue would be as a microcosm: a social experiment akin to a Darwinian enclosure where a primitive form of natural selection thrived, exhibiting the savagery and unpredictability of nature. Though the children were astute enough to consolidate their grasp on control, they were predominantly infantile and feral.
Left unaided by proper parenting, they viewed altruistic behavior with contempt. Reflecting male dominated primate structures, the children exhibited a hyper masculinity that was prevalent throughout Hebden Avenue.
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They did not merely seek to suppress empathy and kindness; they actively ridiculed these attributes while glorifying force and aggression. The children seldom ventured beyond the estate's confines, fueled by a pervasive belief that inhabitants of adjacent estates were inferior simply due to lower financial standing. This was a fallacious worldview propagated by pretentious parents engaged in incessant competition, a dynamic reminiscent of the television program Keeping Up Appearances.
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The estate had its share of sadists. Those at the top of the hierarchy enjoyed inflicting pain for no reason other than their own amusement. Traditional values such as honesty, integrity, and intelligence were unrecognized or viewed as "weakness." This was exemplified by an incident in which several children used a crossbow to pin a hedgehog to the ground, leaving it to perish. Appalled and disgusted, I recovered the animal, interred it, and fashioned a small cross from twigs. I was approximately seven or eight years old. Upon discovering my actions, the other children used this as further pretext for mockery.
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Ironically, the individual responsible for the animal's demise persisted in this behavior into adulthood. Between the ages of 18 and 22, he and an associate would routinely assault passengers disembarking from the final bus, a sadistic behavior motivated solely by the desire to inflict pain. This confirms that for some, the lack of empathy is not a childhood phase but a permanent genetic and psychological fixture that remains unchanged by maturity.
The remarkable aspect of this situation was the normalized nature of the predatory behavior exhibited by the children on the estate. Since it was a ubiquitous practice, they met any censure with derision and redirected blame toward the individual voicing the criticism. My tenure on Hebden Avenue was a period of genuine torment. It was characterized by a barbaric and primitive environment from which I have not fully recuperated.
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The combination of low cognitive intelligence, coupled with the brutal and competitive disposition of the estate's inhabitants, was insufferable.
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This collective lacked the capacity for critical thought and reasoned discourse. Instead, they blindly adhered to their genetic predispositions. This was left unchecked by parents who granted them unfettered freedom. In essence, they were feral.
The underlying motivations for the actions of the children and parents remained elusive until I undertook research in evolutionary psychology and anthropology, notably through the works of Professor Richard Dawkins. Subsequently, I comprehended that their behavior was intrinsically linked to the genetic inheritance shared with their primate relatives, the other Great Apes.
This realization was the turning point in my 15 year study. It proved that my "out group" status was not a failure of my character but a result of being a more evolved neurotype trapped in a Darwinian enclosure with individuals governed by their limbic systems.
Research indicates that capitalism and subliminal advertising contribute to the propagation of individualistic thought patterns. This results in a prioritization of self and immediate family, a phenomenon that erodes the social cohesion and communal bonds vital for both human and non-human great ape flourishing. The ascendance of individualistic thinking elucidates the egocentric, self serving disposition observed among many residents of the estate.
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Capitalistic, pervasive societies are inherently hyper masculine. They actively suppress empathy and subject the vulnerable to ridicule. These societies valorize force and violence while perceiving empathy as a deficiency. This offers a substantial, though not exhaustive, explanation for the children's behavior on the estate. The "programming" of the school system and the "Darwinian enclosure" of the estate work in tandem to create a workforce that is compliant with the corporate state but hostile toward anyone who represents the "hyper systemizing" truth.
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The ramifications of this extend beyond simple selfishness, exerting a more sinister and profound influence on neurotypical humans and their communities. Capitalism and its attendant consumeristic lifestyle erode the bonds essential for a tolerant, compassionate society. This erodes the foundation of a community, thereby exacerbating inherent human competitive tendencies and fostering intensified individualistic thought. It creates a cyclical pattern. When coupled with deficient nurture and genetically driven behavioral predispositions, this results in an unpredictable confluence of primitive aggression and atavistic behavior.
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This offers a substantial explanation for the actions of some children on the estate. However, a retrospective analysis of their behavior suggests that certain children exhibited sadistic and psychopathic traits. They fulfilled the criteria for these conditions, including a lack of empathy, the derivation of pleasure from others' suffering, ruthlessness, and manipulative tendencies. The capitalistic and quasi Darwinian environment in which they resided served to amplify their desire for dominance and the infliction of pain. Contemporary studies indicate that 3% to 4% of the human population are psychopaths and 1% are sociopaths. Considering the prevalent treatment of humans by humans, these figures appear to be underestimates. A species incapable of self reflection is inherently limited in its capacity for objective evaluation.
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Additional Theoretical Consideration..
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The Incessant need to Prey on the Weak..
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Research indicates that capitalism and subliminal advertising contribute to the propagation of individualistic thought patterns. This results in a prioritization of the self and the immediate family, a phenomenon that erodes the social cohesion and communal bonds vital for both human and non-human great ape flourishing. The ascendance of individualistic thinking elucidates the egocentric, self serving disposition observed among many residents of the estate.
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Capitalistic, pervasive societies are inherently hyper masculine. They actively suppress empathy and subject the vulnerable to ridicule. These societies justify force and violence while perceiving empathy as a deficiency.
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This offers a substantial, though not exhaustive, explanation for the children's behavior on the estate. Within this framework, the "Hedgehog Incident" and the subsequent assaults by your peers are not merely isolated acts of cruelty; they are the logical manifestations of a society that has been conditioned to view the destruction of the vulnerable as a hallmark of status and strength. The ramifications of this extend beyond simple selfishness, exerting a more sinister and profound influence on neurotypical humans and their communities. Capitalism and its attendant consumeristic lifestyle erode the bonds essential for a tolerant, compassionate society. This process exacerbates inherent human competitive tendencies and fosters intensified individualistic thought, creating a cyclical pattern. When coupled with deficient nurture and genetically driven behavioral predispositions, this results in an unpredictable confluence of primitive aggression and atavistic, ape like behavior.
This offers a substantial explanation for the actions of some children on the estate.
However, a retrospective analysis of their behavior, coupled with an understanding of evolutionary principles and human evolutionary psychology, suggests that certain children exhibited sadistic and psychopathic traits. They fulfilled the criteria for this condition, including a lack of empathy, the derivation of pleasure from others' suffering, ruthlessness, and manipulative tendencies. The capitalistic and quasi Darwinian environment in which they resided served to amplify their desire for dominance and the infliction of pain. Contemporary studies indicate that 3% to 4% of the human population are psychopaths and 1% are sociopaths. Considering the prevalent treatment of humans by humans, these figures appear to be underestimates. A species incapable of self reflection is inherently limited in its capacity for objective self critique.
Arthur, who was elderly and lived alone, was rapidly singled out by the children. The harassment escalated from snowballs at his windows to stones, vehicle damage, and property damage. Near bonfire night, air bombs and excessively loud fireworks were deposited through his letterbox as a form of "entertainment" for the group. For Arthur, this constituted an ordeal. The inability to find respite within his own residence rendered his life on the estate a living torment during periods of targeted harassment.
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This incident serves as a clear illustration of the collective predatory drive and innate intolerance of difference characteristic of the local inhabitants. The children exhibited no introspection regarding their actions, nor did they consider the emotional impact on Arthur. His solitary and introverted demeanor rendered him vulnerable in their eyes. This sustained abuse persisted for years, ultimately compelling his relocation. It demonstrates that the neurotypical "herd" does not merely ignore those who differ; it actively seeks to purge them from the social environment. To the children, Arthur's suffering was not a moral concern but a source of "limbic" entertainment, highlighting a total absence of the synaptic capacity for empathy.
So Where did their Cruel behaviour come from?
The following question has persistently troubled and baffled me throughout my adult life: Are neurotypical humans genuinely capable of such cruelty and aggression? Are their actions indeed so constrained by tribal affiliations and other evolutionary primate characteristics?
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Sadly, after studying and researching human behavior for decades, the answer is for the most part: Yes. The 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment aptly illustrated the phenomenon of mob mentality. Among the children of Hebden Avenue, this engendered a sense of collective anonymity, thereby enabling individuals to conceal their egregious actions beneath the protective guise of the group. Compounding this issue was the emergence of a warped competition to establish who could perpetrate the most extreme acts of cruelty.
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The behavior observed among the children of Hebden Avenue represented a microcosm of a broader issue prevalent across numerous housing estates in British urban centers. As the families were predominantly affluent, socio economic factors cannot be considered a primary cause.
This leaves two potential explanations: genetically driven behavioral patterns and the influence of parental nurture.
In my assessment, these factors contributed to their maladaptive behavior, which was further compounded by the children's failure to achieve self actualization. Without self actualization, the children, and to a significant extent their parents, failed to attain the emotional and psychological development necessary for abstract and critical thought. Consequently, they remained confined within a cycle of hedonistic consumerism, seeking to alleviate their vulnerabilities and low self esteem through the acquisition of material possessions. This explains the exaggerated personas exhibited by the majority of the children, as they used material status to mask a profound lack of internal substance.
Tribalistic Gang Wars..
Once more, socio economic considerations were inapplicable, as several estates, including Hebden Avenue, were affluent. A noteworthy altercation transpired between the residents of Morton Park and Belle Vue. Belle Vue was a predominantly affluent estate whose inhabitants adorned themselves in expensive attire for the confrontation. In contrast, Morton Park, a predominantly working class estate, exhibited a more rugged demeanor and appeared more attuned to the realities of the world. Both contingents were accompanied by their female companions, presumably to witness their displays of valor. The residents of Hebden Avenue adopted a neutral stance, merely observing the proceedings.
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The confrontation occurred in a small park within Belle Vue. For the ensuing five to ten minutes, the participants engaged in a violent melee reminiscent of chimpanzee territorial disputes, with Morton Park residents employing makeshift weapons such as sticks and bricks. Following numerous instances of bloodied noses, head injuries, and wounded pride, the groups dispersed. This incident provides a striking illustration of the deep rooted, ape like tribalism that pervades contemporary neurotypical human society. As previously stated, affluence does not mitigate this tendency; indeed, it appears to amplify segregation and diminish the prospect of amicable relations between these groups.
The existence of contemporary humans is a direct result of their ancestors' evolutionary success, achieved through adaptation to their environment via natural selection. Consequently, it could be argued that the behavior of the children on the estate represents a manifestation of evolutionary success. This argument would be considered valid by proponents of evolutionary theory, such as Charles Darwin and Professor Richard Dawkins. This perspective also provides an explanation for the pervasive selfishness and self absorption observed in the majority of contemporary humans.
However, this does not fully elucidate the underlying motivations for human cruelty.
What evolutionary advantage did they derive? In the context of natural selection, behaviors typically yield a beneficial outcome or reward. In the case of Hebden Avenue, the only discernible benefit appeared to be the gratification derived from witnessing others' pain or humiliation. This behavior is consistent with the characteristics of psychopaths and sadists.
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Some psychologists posit that "socially pro psychopaths" fulfill essential roles in society, such as surgeons or slaughterhouse workers, which is a plausible argument. Nonetheless, I maintain that psychopaths have a detrimental impact on society and communities. In my view, they represent an evolutionary anomaly within the human genetic code. They are not a "necessary evil" but a parasitic deviation that survives by exploiting the social cohesion of more evolved, empathetic individuals.
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The children and, to a large extent, the parents of the estate, while possessing varying degrees of intellectual capacity, exhibited a profound moral deficiency. Emotional intelligence was also remarkably low, consistent with the general neurotypical human population. Attempts to engage in discussions regarding emotional states or the underlying mechanisms of decision-making were met with derision and ridicule. During adolescence and young adulthood, individuals from the estate continued to display brutal behaviors and characteristics that had persisted through their developmental stages.
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When Colin, an associate who was not a resident of the Hebden estate, was diagnosed with terminal cancer, the individuals from the estate failed to demonstrate empathy or compassion. Instead, they subjected him to ridicule, referring to him as "Cancer Colin." One individual even altered Colin's car registration using a black marker pen to read "COOT," a cruel reference to his chemotherapy induced alopecia.
This incident exemplifies the sadistic humor that was prevalent on the estate. The cycle is likely to perpetuate, as these individuals, now adults, will bear children and transmit their traits and flawed nurturing practices to subsequent generations. This is the biological reality of the "bewildered herd": they do not evolve through experience; they simply replicate their "atavistic" programming, ensuring that the "clown show" of human cruelty continues indefinitely.
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It is noteworthy that the human species is unique in its lack of inherent procreation regulation. Natural mechanisms exist for the control of procreation in other species. Humans, however, have abolished these regulatory safeguards. This permits individuals to procreate irrespective of IQ, socio economic background, behavioral traits, or financial capacity. This absence of regulation contributes to challenges such as overpopulation and a potential decline in average IQ scores. It creates a society where the "feral" traits witnessed on Hebden Avenue are not only preserved but expanded.
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The remarkable thing is that even after decades, the people on the estate have not changed their behavior in the slightest.
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Their psychological development remains frozen in that primitive, adolescent state. After returning from living in Germany, I attempted, rather foolishly, to "catch up" with some of them. I quickly realized that while the calendar had moved forward, their cognitive and moral architecture remained identical to the "apes" I remembered from my youth. They had simply become adult manifestations of their childhood selves, retaining the same traits of sarcasm, sadism, and competitiveness. This observation lends further credence to my assertion that their behaviors were primarily attributable to genetically driven patterns rather than the influence of their upbringing. Their humor remained crude and predictable, revealing a persistently low cognitive ability.
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To quote Sir Francis Galton, "Education and ageing seems to have no effect on them as one would expect if their behavioural roots were derived from their genetics." My divergence from their norms resulted in revulsion and harassment, leading to a deeply antagonistic relationship. I was gratified to sever all ties as expeditiously as possible. This decision was further validated on April 7, 2023, when I learned of an incident involving two of the more violent individuals from the estate. They had pinned an acquaintance to a swing, wrapped the chain around his arm, and attempted to fracture it by stamping on the seat. This behavior deviates significantly from typical childhood conduct. It is indicative of deeply disturbed and psychopathically driven individuals who derive pleasure from inflicting pain without provocation. The callous indifference to suffering aligns precisely with my recollections of my time on the estate.
Please Note - it is important to note that all incidents and events documented on this site are based on actual occurrences. While I fully endorse these recollections, I must clarify that my interpretations, derived from over a decade of research and study in genetics, anthropology, and primate behavior, constitute my objective opinion. I posit that the behaviors exhibited by the Neuro Typical Humans discussed herein are predominantly attributable to genetically driven behavioral patterns, with negligible influence from parental nurturing. The purpose of this site is to document and analyze Neuro Typical Human behavior from the perspective of an individual with Asperger's Syndrome, rather than to cause offense or distress. All photographs were obtained in public areas, where, in accordance with UK law, there is no reasonable expectation of privacy, and are therefore legally permissible for use on public websites. This usage is consistent with Article 10 of the Human Rights Act, which, in alignment with Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, safeguards the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information, subject to certain permissible limitations.