Physiological Illness?

For the reader that does not understand this terminology of biosociology i have outlined below before we unravel this phenomenon.

Biosociology is an interdisciplinary field that examines the interaction between biological and social factors in shaping human behavior, social structures, and cultural dynamics. It integrates insights from sociology, evolutionary biology, neuroscience, and genetics to understand how biological predispositions influence social interactions and vice versa. Key topics in biosociology include the role of hormones in social behavior, genetic influences on personality and group dynamics, and the evolutionary basis of social institutions. It challenges the traditional divide between nature (biology) and nurture (social environment), proposing that human behavior is a product of both.

And for the extended simplification for the investigation further information is given below:

A predisposition is a natural tendency or inclination toward a certain condition, behavior, or outcome. It suggests a built-in potential for something to occur but does not guarantee it. Predispositions can be biological (e.g., a genetic predisposition to anxiety), psychological (e.g., a tendency toward introversion), or social (e.g., a cultural predisposition to certain beliefs). While they create a likelihood for certain developments, external factors—like environment, experiences, or conscious choices—can influence whether and how they manifest.

For the reader that is not British, I welcome you to explore a key figure in our culture. You, overseas in the States or wherever you may be, will also have a term for this being—redneck, ratchet, etc. You may now understand further the basis of the inquiry, which my intention is to explore: the attitude and psychological design of this such being, and to circulate some time around his or her origins and how they are wired in a manner that is indifferent from the rest of the population—specifically the working class. Not all of the working class fall into this polymictic way of behaviour. Since we have them in every nation, it is important that we explore his nature and how he has arrived in the greater picture of humanity as a degenerate force that raises important problems for the functioning of our collective forward movement.

What I shall be exploring is listed below in this piece you will find the explorations of these factors.

1. Biological & Physiological Markers of the Chav Stereotype

• Genetic predispositions and their interaction with environment
• Hormonal influences on aggression, impulsivity, and risk-taking
• Nutritional deficiencies and their impact on behavior and cognition
• Epigenetics: How socioeconomic stress alters genetic expression

2. Environmental & Social Conditioning

• How urban deprivation and low-income environments shape biological stress responses
• The effects of poor diet, substance use, and sleep deprivation on physiological illness
• Early childhood adversity, trauma, and neurological development
• The impact of media portrayals reinforcing social identity and self-fulfilling prophecies

3. Cultural Evolution & Social Identity

• How class structures and historical context created the chav subculture
• The chav aesthetic as a biological and cultural survival mechanism
• Group dynamics: tribalism, in-group/out-group behavior, and loyalty
• The role of consumerism and fashion in self-identification and social signaling

4. Violence, Crime, and Risk-Taking as Evolutionary Strategies

• Testosterone, dopamine, and reward-seeking behavior in youth subcultures
• The role of status anxiety and social competition in criminality
• Evolutionary psychology and the selection of aggression as an adaptive trait
• The physiological effects of living in high-surveillance, high-policing environments

5. Mental Health and Psychological Implications

• The intersection of biosociology and mental illness: depression, anxiety, and antisocial tendencies
• Substance abuse as a physiological response to stress and social alienation
• How social isolation or rejection impacts cognitive function and emotional resilience
• Neurological consequences of long-term unemployment and lack of purpose

Friends, let us begin the inquiry.

ON GENETIC PREDISPOSITIONS

Genetic predispositions found more commonly in the working class are often linked to environmental stressors, economic hardship, and lifestyle factors. While genes do not determine fate, they interact with social conditions to influence health, behavior, and cognition. Below is a list of genetic predispositions that may be more prevalent or expressed in working-class populations due to their environmental context:

1. Mental Health & Neurological Dispositions

• Increased stress reactivity – Variants in the COMT gene (linked to dopamine regulation) can heighten anxiety and impulsivity under stress.
• Depression & Anxiety – Polymorphisms in the 5-HTTLPR serotonin transporter gene affect mood regulation, often exacerbated by poverty.
• ADHD & Impulsivity – Linked to DRD4 and DAT1 genes, often more visible in high-stress, low-resource environments.
• Addiction & Substance Use – Variants in the OPRM1 (opioid receptor) and CHRNA5 (nicotine dependence) genes increase susceptibility to alcohol, nicotine, and drug abuse.

2. Aggression, Risk-Taking & Social Behavior

• Testosterone & Aggression – Variants in the MAOA-L gene ("warrior gene") are linked to increased aggression, especially in adverse environments.
• Risk-taking & Reward-Seeking – DRD2 and DRD4 dopamine receptor genes influence impulsive decision-making and thrill-seeking behavior.
• Reduced Stress Tolerance – FKBP5 gene variations affect cortisol regulation, leading to lower emotional resilience in high-adversity settings.

3. Metabolic & Physical Health Dispositions

• Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome – FTO and MC4R gene variants are linked to obesity, often compounded by poor diet and food insecurity.
• Type 2 Diabetes – TCF7L2 gene is associated with higher diabetes risk, especially when combined with a high-sugar, high-carb diet.
• Heart Disease & Hypertension – AGT and ACE gene variants contribute to high blood pressure, often worsened by chronic stress and poor healthcare access.

4. Cognitive Function & Educational Attainment

• Lower Executive Function Under Stress – BDNF gene polymorphisms impact memory and learning, particularly in low-stimulation environments.
• IQ & Educational Attainment – Polygenic scores suggest slight heritable influences, but socioeconomic conditions play a massive role in their expression.
• Short-Term vs. Long-Term Thinking – Certain genes linked to dopamine pathways (e.g., COMT, DRD2) influence immediate gratification over delayed rewards.

5. Pain Tolerance & Physical Resilience

• Higher Pain Tolerance – Variants in SCN9A (sodium channel gene) affect pain perception, which may explain endurance in physical labor jobs.
• Bone Density & Physical Endurance – ACTN3 gene ("sprinter gene") influences muscle composition and physical strength, possibly favoring manual labor adaptation.

6. Sleep & Circadian Rhythm Disruptions

• Shortened Sleep Duration – DEC2 gene mutations can lead to less sleep needed, though many in the working class experience disrupted sleep due to shift work.
• Night Owl Tendencies – Variants in PER3 and CLOCK genes are linked to late-night activity and sleep-cycle misalignment, common in non-9-to-5 jobs.

7. Immune Function & Disease Susceptibility

• Autoimmune Disorders – Genes like HLA-DR4 are linked to conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, potentially worsened by exposure to industrial pollutants.
• Higher Susceptibility to Respiratory Illnesses – Variants in GSTM1 affect detoxification, making individuals more vulnerable to pollution and smoking-related illnesses.

8. Fertility & Reproductive Health

• Earlier Puberty – LIN28B gene variants are linked to early puberty, a trait often more common in lower-income populations.
• Higher Fertility Rates – Certain genetic markers linked to reproductive success may be more expressed in high-adversity populations, from an evolutionary standpoint.

Considering the above factors, we get the sense of an individual who, in their prepositional birth, has been granted to be tested and burdened from the beginning by existence itself. Otherwise, we should note both Heidegger and Schopenhauer here with their concept of "Thrownness." For the reader who finds themselves unfamiliar with these concepts, let us lift the mild veil on this dilemma below:

The concept of thrownness (Geworfenheit) is most commonly associated with Martin Heidegger, rather than Arthur Schopenhauer. However, if you we are looking for a Schopenhauerian take on something similar, it would relate to his pessimistic metaphysics and theory of the will.

Schopenhauer argues that human existence is dictated by blind, irrational forces, particularly the Will-to-Life (Wille zum Leben), which compels us into existence without our consent. This aligns with the idea that we are "thrown" into the world—born into circumstances beyond our control, dictated by nature, fate, and suffering. While he does not explicitly use the term "thrownness," his philosophy implies a deep sense of involuntary existence, where human life is driven by unconscious forces and an inescapable struggle against suffering.

If we are thinking of Heidegger’s concept of thrownness, it refers to the precondition of existence—that we are "thrown" into a world not of our choosing, already embedded in historical, social, and existential structures. Schopenhauer’s take would be more pessimistic, emphasizing the suffering and irrationality of this condition rather than its ontological structure.

Yet, neither views matter on the condition proposed.

The reason why is that both suggest we are equally "thrown" into this world, regardless of circumstance—suggesting that whatever happens to us is not due to ourselves, but instead puts our hands and responsibility into, one: the fates and lives of also "thrown," unreliable parents, and two: into fractured cognitive systems which are formulated from hereditary and preconditional bases, mental bloodline frameworks, independent orientation during infancy, etc.

This is who we blindly fight as ghosts—for their inherent direction on our life. But as we mature, we realise we are left alone to combat this directive force that we are truly burdened by. Despite ever being able to complete it in an analytical observation or a self-reflection, it is rather that we are impermanence—impotent, intellectually, to release these shackles.

By its sheer presence and requirements, it can be shifted from a burden to a blessing.

Schopenhauer would agree that we are thrown into the world involuntarily, but he would take this idea even further—arguing that our very existence is dictated by the blind, impersonal Will, which operates beyond reason or personal control. In this sense, our circumstances at birth—such as unreliable parents or external influences—are merely manifestations of the Will's indifferent and chaotic nature, not something that happens to us personally but as part of a larger, irrational process, one which we may call "cosmic display"

However, Schopenhauer would challenge the idea that, as we mature, we are truly left alone to direct ourselves. For him, what we take as personal direction or autonomy is still deeply conditioned by the Will, meaning our desires, choices, and so-called independence are ultimately just expressions of this same force. Even when we feel we are making independent decisions, we are still enslaved by our impulses, needs, and suffering, all of which stem from the Will-to-Life.

That said, Schopenhauer does offer a possible escape—through asceticism, art, and philosophical contemplation, one can distance oneself from the Will, reducing its hold and achieving a form of detachment. But this is rare, and for most people, life remains an ongoing struggle of illusionary self-direction, while they are, in reality, still moved by forces outside their control.

He may imply the following;

1. The Will-to-Life (Wille zum Leben) – The fundamental, blind, and irrational force that compels all living beings to strive, struggle, and suffer without ultimate purpose.
2. Innate Desires and Drives – Our instincts for survival, reproduction, hunger, and power, which operate beneath rational thought and dictate much of human behavior.
3. Genetic and Biological Determinism – The physical body and mental constitution we are born with, which predetermine our capabilities, temperament, and even our susceptibility to suffering.
4. External Circumstances (Fate) – The conditions of our birth, such as family, social class, health, and environment, which we do not choose but which shape our opportunities and struggles.
5. Suffering and the Cycle of Desire – The endless pursuit of fulfillment that never results in lasting satisfaction, as every satisfied desire gives birth to new longing, trapping us in a cycle of pain.
6. Time and Aging – The inescapable passage of time, which erodes our strength, beauty, and potential, pushing us toward inevitable decline and death.
7. Other People's Wills – The desires, expectations, and actions of others, which interfere with our own pursuits and often subject us to manipulation, conflict, or dependence.
8. The Principle of Sufficient Reason – The deterministic nature of reality, which Schopenhauer sees as governed by cause and effect, making free will an illusion.
9. Social and Cultural Conditioning – The values, ideologies, and norms imposed upon us by society, which shape our identity, beliefs, and sense of duty without us realizing how deeply conditioned we are.
10. Death and the Meaninglessness of Existence – The inevitable end of life, which renders all striving futile and exposes the absurdity of human ambition in the face of cosmic indifference.

For Schopenhauer, these forces bind us to suffering, and only through asceticism, art, or deep philosophical insight can one temporarily transcend them—though full escape is nearly impossible for most.

Schopenhauer is wrong.

He offers asceticism? the pursuit through arts beauty and philosophy as a combative force to this dilemma, to who exactly is he addressing the elites? the middle class? or everyone?

It is quite laughable and poorly inquisitive (in this domain of topic). It was worth mentioning him due to the nature of the inquiry I am writing—there may be only one other so-called "philosopher" who can talk about suffering in the manner that he does.

However, let us use this knowledge and allocate it in, and alter its true intention further down the line. Let us redeem Schopenhauer here. What is true and definitive in his course of action is the following:

1. Genetic and Biological Determinism – The physical body and mental constitution we are born with, which predetermine our capabilities, temperament, and even our susceptibility to suffering.
2. External Circumstances (Fate) – The conditions of our birth, such as family, social class, health, and environment, which we do not choose but which shape our opportunities and struggles.
3. Suffering and the Cycle of Desire – The endless pursuit of fulfillment that never results in lasting satisfaction, as every satisfied desire gives birth to new longing, trapping us in a cycle of pain.
4. Social and Cultural Conditioning – The values, ideologies, and norms imposed upon us by society, which shape our identity, beliefs, and sense of duty without us realizing how deeply conditioned we are.

He is not to take responsibility for such suggestions. There have been many other people in these actual fields of study that have provided more in-depth analysis of these topics. But again, for the sake of this inquiry, let us look into these infiltrations of our personal physical body and coordinate them back to this individual that we are exploring.

The individual who this inquiry is aimed towards suffers with all of these symptoms, as do we. The British chav is essentially the derangement of the archetypal human being—an individual that, from observation, can encapsulate the entire structure of reality and all its infinite possibilities tied and wrapped into a physical, living, conscious animal. All of the above mentioned we find ourselves struck by, and this individual is no different to us.

The difference he proposes is that he remains where he remains from lack of attempt at self-preservation—of the mind, or to the duty of extending one's character.

ON THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE BRITISH CHAV

The locations of council estate areas, primed with gang culture, knife crime and violence, drug addiction, drug habitats, and the like, surround this weakened individual. When I use the term "weakened," what I insinuate is that their environment is a testing ground for them. Let us take, for instance, someone born in a stable home with fruitful relationships with their family. This individual is not faced with the instincts of fight or flight in permanence; therefore, they may find times where they can relax and self-reflect more easily, whereas this individual we are on topic with is weakened, already predisposed to either become or fail.

In these "working class" environments—though I put them beneath such suggestions—we find these individuals prone to engage in what they see.

Neuroscience has some indications on these habits and the visual perceptive field and how we are immediately engaged within it which we can find below:

Neuroscientific research strongly supports the idea that environmental stressors shape brain function and behavior, particularly in individuals raised in high-adversity environments like those found in deprived council estates. Below is some relevant data that aligns with your argument:

1. The Neuroscience of Chronic Stress and the Fight-or-Flight Response

• Amygdala Hyperactivity: Studies show that individuals raised in violent, high-stress environments have an overactive amygdala, the brain’s fear-processing center. This leads to heightened aggression, impulsivity, and hypervigilance, making them more prone to engage in violence or criminal activity.
  • Study: A 2016 study by McEwen & Morrison found that chronic exposure to stress causes the amygdala to increase in volume and connectivity, leading to persistent anxiety and reactive aggression.
• Prefrontal Cortex Dysfunction: The prefrontal cortex (PFC), responsible for impulse control, decision-making, and self-reflection, is underdeveloped or weakened in individuals exposed to long-term adversity.
  • Study: Research by Hanson et al. (2012) found that children from low-income, high-stress backgrounds had reduced gray matter in the PFC, making them more susceptible to impulsive decision-making and aggression.

2. Mirror Neurons and Environmental Imitation

• Mirror Neuron System (MNS) & Social Learning: The brain is wired to imitate observed behaviors, a process governed by the mirror neuron system (MNS). In gang-dominated environments, repeated exposure to crime and violence normalizes these behaviors in the developing brain.
  • Study: Iacoboni et al. (2005) demonstrated that mirror neurons activate when people observe behaviors, reinforcing learned aggression and social conformity to their environment.

3. Dopamine, Reward Systems, and Crime

• Dopaminergic Dysregulation: Individuals in crime-heavy environments often experience dopaminergic imbalances, making them more prone to risk-taking, instant gratification, and addiction.
  • Study: Buckholtz et al. (2010) found that people from deprived environments show hyperactive dopamine responses to reward cues, explaining increased drug use, criminal thrill-seeking, and reckless behavior.

4. The Impact of Visual Stimuli on Behavior

• Perception and Environmental Priming: The visual cortex processes environmental cues, shaping behavioral responses. Exposure to violent imagery, decay, and social disorder increases stress and aggression.
  • Study: A 2019 study by Vohs et al. found that individuals who viewed images of urban decay and violence had increased activity in the anterior cingulate cortex, leading to heightened fear responses and defensive aggression.

Conclusion: The Neuroscience of Environmental Determinism

The chronic stress, visual exposure to crime, and neural predispositions of individuals in these environments create a self-perpetuating cycle of violence, risk-taking, and addiction. This neuroscience-backed framework aligns with the assertion that individuals in deprived areas are neurologically "weakened", making them more likely to engage in behaviors they observe.

And so we reach a point to suggest that what is seen in our visual environment while we are maintaining orientation in our youth is subliminally directing us. The separation of falling under this guise and slumber is where one's character and spirit are uniquely demonstrated as a light through the dark, or, otherwise, the dark encloses upon the light, eternally.

ON THE POSSIBLE CHOICES AVAILABLE FOR THE LOW IQ INDIVIDUAL

Books and reading are out of the question. Most maintain a sub-illiterate stance in adult life. Let us be clear about this individual: their life action is outside of themselves, and the possible inclinations for self-inquiry are slim to none. Therefore, they often will suggest, "That's life, get over it," or "It'll pass in a few days," regarding "moods" or temperance dilemmas. It is fundamentally a lack of understanding of how their psyche may work, which is where we find these so-called partial answers through reading and research.

These terms are vital indications that are applied to the individual passing through the external notions only.

Therefore, the idea to seek within and expand the horizon within is often granted to them through modern accessible advertisements and herd mentality—advertisements for school and education with the intention of finding a "career" in a 9-5 setting only.

Their ability to contend with believing in themselves beyond these options is a conduit for their subliminal self-torture that finds itself through the course of their cognitive navigation frameworks. It's coupled with their survival necessity to keep "above float" during the day-to-day combative environments. This proposes that the information they are willing to decline or follow through with is, in itself, given to them from their external realms, which happen to be of lower sustainable currents.

Poor housing conditions, negative architectural structures that imply fragility in their construction, faded colorings of the gates, fences, and the local parks for the children—these make their participation in itself neglectful for the obvious reason to be sublime to the eye. Yet again, what is witnessed from perception interferes with the shaping of character and personality.

These dilemmas approach the metaphysical dilemma of their existence. They are, in their essence, confronted with the negotiation between what society tells them to be and what their own intuition directs them to be, taking their intuition beyond what the realm they comprehend to be. This means that what they classify in themselves as their own identity, with instincts and presuppositions about their own beliefs, still makes it unnecessary for them to surpass this dilemma based on their surrounding nature.

Therefore, they find themselves permanently tied into their desolate environments, almost attached to lower ways of seeing, thinking, and living.

In regards to race, since this topic is about the white British male chav, perhaps mostly Anglo-Saxon in nature, we regard these circumstances in correlation to this proposition: those born into these hereditary circumstances find themselves exposed to conditions that are already predisposed upon the individual we are discussing, in motion to the bloodline nature here. Throughout the family's historical line, each generation is perhaps born into this agonizing realm, to either surpass and make something of themselves or remain in the same position.

And therefore, the proposition continues? Does it not step further into continual bloodline peasantry?

This heredity illness extends.

We must take into account the birth rate of these individuals which we may find below:

​As of early April 2025, the UK's birth rate has reached historic lows. In 2023, women in England and Wales had an average of 1.44 children, the lowest rate on record. This decline is attributed to factors such as financial pressures, including high housing and childcare costs, and individuals choosing to have children later in life. ​Latest news & breaking headlinesLatest news & breaking headlines+4BBC+4TeachLearn Support+4

While comprehensive data specifically detailing birth rates among the working-class British population for 2024-2025 is not readily available, it's reasonable to infer that the broader national trends are reflective across various socioeconomic groups. Financial challenges, such as the high cost of living and housing affordability, have been significant deterrents to starting families. For instance, the average cost of raising two children until age 18, including housing, is estimated at over £500,000, making parenthood a substantial financial commitment. ​Latest news & breaking headlines

These economic pressures are likely to have a pronounced impact on working-class families, potentially leading to delayed family planning or decisions to have fewer children. Additionally, the increasing average age of first-time mothers and fathers—30.9 and 33.8 years, respectively—reflects a societal shift towards later parenthood, influenced by career considerations and financial stability. ​Express.co.uk+6Latest news & breaking headlines+6University of Bath Blogs+6TeachLearn Support+1BBC+1

While specific statistics for the working-class demographic are lacking, the overarching national trends suggest that economic factors are playing a critical role in shaping family planning decisions across all segments of British society.​

Below you can access these articles tailored to the UK Birth rate dilemma.

Recent Developments in UK Birth RatesThe Guardian Young women in England and Wales projected to have just one child by 353 days agoLatest news & breaking headlines Bristol has one of the country's lowest birthrates. Here's why 6 days agoLatest news & breaking headlines Babies or house: how would you rather spend half a million pounds? 37 days ago

ON MATERIALISM AND ITS SURFACES FOR THE LOWER CLASS

We must beg the question: why do the lower class spend more money on designer clothes when they know they cannot afford them? Materialism has captured them as a quick enabler of status signaling. They spend their money on these items to cover, in a smokescreen fashion, the undertones of their struggle.

Consumerism, in itself, is targeted at the lower class because of the advertisement and marketing techniques used. It is the prime place to target, as the architects of these campaigns understand that they are willing to sacrifice the pursuit of knowledge and self-improvement for immediate hedonistic materialism and status signaling.

And so why are they pressured to seek out these things that are above their budget?

The answer is not at all complicated.

It is because their lives are desolate and a struggle by their very nature, and these campaigns offer them hope for a life that is beyond their reach. Immediately, they can appear higher in the hierarchy by their appearance and, therefore, maintain their life while knowing that these clothes they wear serve as armor for their existence—one which we know protects them from their sufferable lives.

Even though it is obvious to anyone that their armor is literally just armor, only a front cover for the true character of the individual, due to poor styling efforts and weakened attempts at merging their own dress sense, they still appear as mannequins and comic book characters.

ON MENTAL HEALTH.

​Research consistently demonstrates a strong link between lower socioeconomic status and increased prevalence of mental health issues such as anxiety and depression in the UK. Individuals in the poorest fifth of the population are twice as likely to develop mental health problems compared to those with average incomes. ​The Health Foundation+4Mind+4GOV.UK+4

Financial insecurity significantly contributes to mental distress. A survey revealed that 86% of individuals with mental health problems reported that their financial situation exacerbated their condition. Additionally, renters are at least twice as likely as homeowners to experience issues like sleep loss, strain, and depression. ​GOV.UK+1Joseph Rowntree Foundation+1Joseph Rowntree Foundation+1Joseph Rowntree Foundation+1

Employment status also plays a critical role. Unemployed individuals and those in unstable jobs are more prone to common mental health problems than those in secure employment. Moreover, people in the lowest socioeconomic groups and residing in the most deprived areas are up to ten times more at risk of suicide than those in the most affluent groups. ​Mental Health FoundationMind

These findings underscore the profound impact of socioeconomic factors on mental health, highlighting the need for policies that address financial insecurity and promote mental well-being among lower-income populations.​

Recent Insights into Economic Insecurity and Mental Health in the UKThe GuardianGen Z and young millennials battling 'negative wealth' as debt burden growsTodayThe GuardianWork and money worry young people more than culture wars or climate, UK poll finds6 days agoThe Guardian A 'back to work' approach to mental illness is no panacea15 days ago

Do we need to explore the possible reasons why such individuals are predominantly exposed to these illnesses and predispositions? Is it worth explaining?

Their lives consist of low-income jobs, potential offspring at young ages, therefore reliant on governmental income, poor social conditions and environments, and the neglectful response the government has in fixing these environments while propagating the idea that these individuals—who are taking the brunt of their circumstances—are hopeless in the face of it.

I hope you have enjoyed this piece. It again is not an academic journal, nor do my intentions cover these areas.