>>Ysabetwordsmith cooked up this particular puzzle. I'm just noodling the possibilities. <<

I'm enjoying the hell out of watching this discussion as you poke at the pieces. :D By all means, prompt for more. I don't know what next year's themes will be, but something should fit.

>> So, saying that, I'd also say that (a) there have to be several interconnecting factors all slanted the correct way to have the imprint repeat, especially so far down the reproductive path, <<

That matches my observations. Also, look at how scarily well it worked in local-America, and then imagine how much more it would work with actual superpowers.

>>and (b) having an incomplete imprint leads to "typically screwed up" thoughts and behaviors, not this... butchery.<<

I could imagine that, if someone put diligent effort into breaking free, their offspring would have less of the imprint -- would perhaps be missing the parts that parent worked hardest to overcome. So passing down through stubborn people, generations later you might just have a handful of average biases.

However, you also have to account for how society reinforces that imprint. A partial one might be increased through institutionalized abuses.

>>I keep coming back to that word. These effects are horrifying. Epigenetics writ large, with a blowtorch.<<

Yyyyeah. You can see why Boss White freaked.

I do think this manifests partly in epigenetics, and that's one of the easiest parts to clean up, if someone wants it combed into better orientation.