Doctors have come a long way in our world, and, for that matter, so has science, but I heavily doubt that the scientific community or any doctor would condone self-diagnosed excuses. If you’re confused now, let me explain. A recent scientific study reported in the ScienceNow magazine that there is an apparent link between DNA and the reason why men cheat. The story claims that in the male anatomy there is a specific gene that controls whether or not a man turns out monogamous. Another study covered by a different source explained how there could also be a gene responsible for inducing a binge drinker to indulge in his cravings. Apparently, owning up to your problems isn’t fashionable anymore. Nowadays, that nerd you used to know is blaming his lack of a social life on a clinical disorder; Asperger’s, to be exact. The thought of such an easy way out seems relieving, but is it really scientific to diagnose your irresponsibility?
Take a minute out of your busy schedule and throw yourself into this situation: You come home from a long day at the office and walk in on your boyfriend in bed with another girl. You ask him “”Why?”” in between violent swings for his jugular. “”I’m sorry baby, I just couldn’t help it,”” he says. “”You see, my molecular structure makes me unable to stay loyal to you. My DNA is just lacking some genes. I swear it’s not my fault, it’s my genes!””
If your response was something loud that involved feces and a male cow, you’re not alone. The most critical word in that whole scenario is “”Why?”” Why do some men, or anyone for that matter, cheat on their significant others? Some would say for men, it’s because their thought processes are occurring at a lower end of their bodies than they should. Still others will never have or find an answer. Yet why should anyone need to know the reason behind such an act? Reasons are just excuses wrapped in really expensive wrapping paper and laced with golden lies. If you find yourself disagreeing with me, refer back to the second paragraph. The example used is backed with so-called “”scientific evidence”” (i.e. they tested a few twins in Sweden for dating habits and called it research) and yet I doubt that such an argument would hold together the pieces of a crumbling relationship.
On another note, there has been many a study conducted trying to explain the causes of binge drinking. Some research plausibly states that the younger one starts drinking, the more likely he will become a binge drinker. The latest tests say that there’s a gene commonly found in drunks that might be the cause of their problem. Whether true or not, it seems unfair to say we have no control over ourselves.
Many will make the argument of fate and that we were made to be one way regardless of our own ideas. I, myself, like to believe that the influence of will-power and self-respect, in such philosophies, is underestimated. Yet aside from the philosophical end, there is still the idea that most binge drinkers do so because they enjoy being drunk, not because their DNA structure is lacking the necessary genes to enable them to say “”no.””
One other area in which science and medicine seem to inadvertently provide an excuse for people’s misgivings is in the “”self-diagnoses”” department. Turn on your TV and you will no doubt see a commercial for a hip new drug. These commercials advertise a great relief to your most annoying symptoms and many now boast that they are “”non-prescription”” medicines. One thing they all have in common is that every commercial ends with this catchy, motivating phrase:
“”Ask your doctor about [insert drug here] today.”” The commercials passively encourage self-diagnosis, implying that you should be giving the doctor a note for what you need from the pharmacist. It doesn’t become a significant problem though, until that nerdy kid back in high school starts to blame his asocial adult behavior on an autistic syndrome. It’s been the case a few times where kids like him blame Asperger’s for their lack of friends.
Putting two and two together isn’t hard in this case. All three reports just prove further how people these days are unable to own up to mistakes or misgivings. People will always find excuses instead of taking responsibility. The binge drinker with an apparently oppressive gene is just a drunk and the nerd is just a nerd.
As for the cheating boyfriend with the ever-so-convincing scientific explanation for his “”indulgence”” – even should it prove to be a sound argument – I have one word of advice: Rent a hotel.
– Isaac Mohr is a journalism freshman. He can be reached
at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.
