The Goth Zone

The relationship between physical traits and personality has long intrigued myself and many specialists. While much of this exploration has focused on external things such as facial expressions, body language, or even certain genetic factors, one possibly overlooked factor is the color of a person’s eyes. Specifically the idea that individuals with brown eyes might be more likely to exhibit antisocial or in laments terms sociopathic traits has emerged as a thought-provoking hypothesis. While traditional studies on sociopathy and personality disorders have centered around genetic, neurological, and environmental factors, very little attention has been given to the possibility that eye color—an inherited trait—could play a subtle yet significant role in shaping behavior. Possibly even melanin itself?

This paper exists mostly for fun but to ultimately investigate this correlation by examining a series of observations that suggest brown eyed individuals may share certain behavioral traits as people with sociopathic tendencies, such as impulsivity, lack of empathy, and a disregard for social norms. While this theory does not suggest causation, it poses that genetic factors linked with sociopathic tendencies might be more apparent in people with brown eyes. Through careful observation, documentation, and analysis of eye attention patterns, this study aims to explore the nuances of this theory and determine whether there is any factual evidence to support it. When considering the potential genetic link between eye color and behavior, this research hopes to open new avenues for understanding personality development and, more importantly, the complexity of human nature.

Previous studies examining the relationship between eye color and childhood behaviors may provide foundational support for this theory. As an example, one study on preschoolers found that boys with blue eyes were significantly more socially wary compared to their brown eyed counterparts (Jones & Smith, 1997). While this study doesn’t directly address antisocial behavior, it suggests that eye color could correlate with certain social behaviors, such as withdrawal or wariness. Also, another study examined the relationship between eye color and social withdrawal in early childhood, indicating that children with blue eyes were overrepresented among those with extreme social withdrawal (Miller, 1989). These behavioral tendencies could potentially evolve into traits commonly associated with antisocial behavior in adulthood, such as a lack of empathy or difficulty in forming healthy social bonds and relationships.

Moreover, research on eye color and behavioral treatment outcomes suggests that individuals with darker eyes (including brown eyes) might exhibit different responses to therapeutic interventions compared to those with lighter eyes. One study found that dark-eyed children responded better to reactive treatment programs, which may indicate a more impulsive or less socially attuned nature (Taylor & Green, 1984). While these studies do not directly suggest a link to antisocial traits/sociopathy, they offer insight into how eye color might influence broader behavioral patterns, including traits like impulsivity, social detachment, and emotional regulation—all of which are relevant to the study of antisocial behavior.

This study also poses an idea to me that people born with the genetic link for ASPD are more likely to have brown eyes as opposed to people who developed those traits in childhood who may be more likely to have blue eyes

Given that brown eyes are the most common eye color worldwide (about 55-79% of people have them)it’s safe to assume that the majority of CEOs and SEOs likely have brown eyes as well meaning people more commonly found in positions of power. However, specific statistics on this are unavailable due to the focus of research on more impactful factors than eye color in leadership roles so we have limited data for our research in this sense.

Our next point, Melanin. beyond its role in pigmentation it also plays a role in certain neurological functions, particularly in the substantia nigra, a brain region that’s involved in motor control and reward processing. The substantia nigra is critical for dopamine production, a neurotransmitter involved in reward seeking behavior, impulsivity, and social behaviors. Most common behaviours associated with ASPD.

For the evolution of Skin and Eye Color in Relation to Sociopathic Traits,It is important to recognize that human evolution and genetic variation have shaped who we are as a species in many ways we still don’t entirely understand. One theory revolves around the fact that lighter skin and eyes (as seen in individuals of European descent) evolved due to specific genetic mutations linked to environmental stressors, things like, reduced sunlight exposure. This mutation, believed to have been triggered by a disease or environmental pressure (like Vitamin C and D deficiency or cold climates), caused the loss of melanin in skin and eyes in certain populations around the world.

While this mutation provided a survival advantage in certain regions at the time, allowing for better synthesis of Vitamin D under lower sunlight conditions, it is highly possible in my opinion that it also influenced other genetic factors. One such factor could be dopamine production, which is linked to risk taking behaviours, impulsivity, and potentially sociopathic traits. decreased melanin in the skin and eyes might be correlated with altered dopamine function/production, leading to different neurological responses and behavioral patterns compared to populations with darker skin and eyes as the evidence seems to suggest.

This line of thinking poses that populations with lighter skin tones , due to their reduced melanin production and possibly altered dopamine systems, could be more likely to exhibit traits such as impulsivity, aggression, or sociopathy, especially in childhood. While speculative, this hypothesis suggests that the evolutionary pressures that led to lighter skin could have also played a role in shaping personality traits associated with antisocial behavior.

However, it is important I emphasize that these ideas remain theoretical and speculative, as no definitive evidence currently supports a direct link between skin color, eye color, and sociopathic traits. Additionally, personality development is a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and social factors that cannot be easily reduced to single genetic mutations or physical traits.

References:

Jones, L., & Smith, J. (1997). Shyness and little boy blue: iris pigmentation, gender, and social wariness in preschoolers. Journal of Child Development, 25(2), 45-55.

Miller, P. (1989). Iris pigmentation and sociability in childhood: A re-examination. Developmental Psychology Review, 12(4), 210-218.