I was just reading about psychopaths and how they are made and I saw something interesting that if you abuse a child it actually stops the development of the amygdala. The amygdala, when you’re a baby makes you seek indiscriminate affection untill 6 months old and then another part of the brain kicks in, called the septal nuclei, it throttles the amygdala back (animals with a damaged septal nuclei will actually approach their predators for affection). The amygdala continues to develop but it can also be throttled back. Imagine a kid who’s dad is smiling at him one minute and punching him in the stomach or face the next. It traumatises the kid and as an evolutionary adaptation it halts the development of the amygdala (it doesn’t pay to approach a smiling parent for affection if they may turn violent). The amygdala in psychopaths is up to 18% smaller than an average person. The lack of inner emotional life causes them to seek out risky behaviour in order to feel something. This makes them much less risk averse and appear braver but it’s not real bravery. If you look at most of the photos of Paul in the boxing ring his eyes look completely normal. Most people’s pupils dilate in dangerous situations but a psychopath is different. However if you look at his eyes in pics where he’s being social or talking on camera, they look black like a sharks eyes because his pupils are expanded. A psychopath that’s been abused has this reaction because their brain is automatically prepping for danger from those that are being nice (remember his dad would beat him and buy him chocolate). This is why I think he was always on high alert and ready to punch at the drop of a hat. In my opinion, Paul was meant to be something special, a gifted person. He was a ‘misfired’ genius, an intellect. He was meant to be a great writer. His life is a cautionary tale about why you shouldn’t think you know what’s best for your kids. He hated being punched in the face as a kid. He was happy to get nicked because he could read all the books he wanted. He gravitated to Delroy because he was an intelligent man. If his Dad hadn’t been so brutal, who knows how he would have developed...

U got me hooked on sykes mate.. Even at work I have trowel in 1 hand and phone in other watching anything to do with sykes 😂

I grew up on lupset bumped into him loads of times he was really funny and passionate from where he came from RIP

Just ordered a copy of your book. A friend posted a link to the Sykes documentary on Facebook the other day and I had exactly the same reaction as you - 'I need to know more about this guy!' Thanks for writing it, I'm looking forward to reading it.

Enjoyed every post you have put on hear, lots of characters about in the 70s erley 80s but Paul name keeps toping the bill, keep up the good work, 👍

Your research is your success... Brilliant top job 👍

Paul Sykes was a victim of his environment I have often wondered what he could have achieved if he had been born in to a loving supportive family.

Just bought and started reading this book Jamie. Also have Further Agony to read. Really enjoying it so far. Well done. It is a shame you are stopping with the true crime though. All the best mate

It's a good read mate well done

I think you’ve become an investigative journalist.

You should just do a video of Paul Sykes stories that people have told you.

I watched that documentary in 1990

Yeh we will never know sykes and mcclean ime from wakefield and met sykes a few times and he grew up with my family.

Got the book love it Jamie cheers 👍 always wondered why he didn’t play rugby league (everyone in Wakefield plays rugby) and book confirms he did, probably his lack of discipline and attitude that was why he didn’t get on with anyone though 🤣

I swam with him in the blue lagoon he was a great swimmer

Met Paul Sykes in Woodhull prison 1997..good guy hell of a grip on his handshake..hands like shovels...saw him knock some guy down a flight of stairs .the guy thought he was a old man a nobody. He took tobacco of him and didn't pay it back actually told him to fuck off then he got banged out..the screws knew it was Paul but left it alone they were terrified of him.... icie moss side Manchester city england

Loving the channel what happened to his two sons...?

Why did sykes lose to terry mitchell was he drunk? Why didn't he get him back for giving him a good hiding Why is there not a book on terry mitchell he harder than sykes.

I hope some of the money everyone is earning out of this man trickles through to his family ????

Nobhed done well.

Also from Scotland, yer man wouldn't beat Laila Ali never mind Muhammed. Jamie Boyle talks pish.