9y.o. Psychopath, Is It Even Possible?

[blacksheep]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/ma...ewanted=1&_r=1

I think it is possible.

[Starbuck]

Wow. I read that entire article. When his mom said he'd either grow up to win the Nobel prize or be a serial killer, I got the shivers. I feel really sorry for that family and other families going through life with a child like that. Although, from some of the crime stories I've read over time, I have no doubt they were born that way.

[Valasca]

Indeed.
I used to work in a mental health clinic. They had a client as young as 5(!!!) showing signs of being a psychopath.

[blacksheep]

"They don’t care if someone is mad at them,”

"Even if accurate, it’s a ruinous diagnosis. No one is sympathetic to the mother of a psychopath.”

How terrible ! I wonder if they will come up with a medication to help switch on the emotional centres. The part that chilled me the most was when they said it could be like diabetes, hardwired in and never to be taught.

[Pene784]

Very interesting and terrifying article (terrifying from a mothers stand point). When the mother made the serial killer remark and then followed it up with "Told that other parents might be shocked to hear her say such a thing, she sighed, then was silent for several seconds. “To them I’d say that they shouldn’t judge until they’ve walked in my shoes,” she said finally. “Because, you know, it takes a toll. There’s not a lot of joy and happiness in raising Michael.” I was brought to tears. I do sympathize with her and what a terrible feeling it must be to admit such a thing about your own child. Also, after what the father admitted about himself I was left wondering if he himself was a well controlled psychopath. Just a thought.

[biteme]

definitely born, not made

[golanvern]

Unbelievably, they exist even younger. Link to Canada's (from Ottawa, our national capital) most infamous young psychopath - Joseph Roger Fredericks. Horrifying.

http://www.yorku.ca/rweisman/pdf/Con...Fredericks.pdf

[JGo555]

I think THIS certaintly explains why a whole lot of the 'tard defenders go through when they come to defend a rapist/child killer-beater/woman beater/baby molester.


I mean "...no one is going to be sympathetic to the mother of a psychopath..."

THat's why I always tell moms that they might've done EVERYTHING RIGHT & the person still turned out to do it... it really WAS out of their hands.

This is sad as fuck & these people scare me more than anything because they are MOTHERFUCKING REAL & you can't stop/spot them.

I have a list of scary things that as a child I couldn't fathom:

-serial killers
- socio & psychopaths
- narcissists or narcissistic personality disorder sufferers
-rapists
- zombies
- animal fears: snakes, spiders, sharks, jellyfish, tigers, lions (& all other huge cats), bears, fish biting my toes when river swimming & so on)


I know zombies aren't real but, it could motherfucking happen!

[malq]

definitely born, not made

I am going to disagree, I read that entire article and it was fascinating, what is didn't say though is that somewhere between 3-5 years old a kids psyche is hardwired in many different ways. Some are manipulated by external input from environment like self esteem and self worth. Some are internal like processing guilt and the ability to manipulate for self.

I wrote an article on this and there is a lot of ghostly evidence to back it up, but in general, yes psychopathic behavior exists in kids of all ages. The curious thing is why. Common sense would say that a child can be molded up till they are a teen. IMO that is true except for certain hardwired characteristics.

it is important to note not all psychopaths are violent and damaging to society. I believe I have a certain level of psychopathy as do many. I don't use it for bad things, although I am certainly capable of erasing guilt and could kill if I wanted to,justified of course..

First described systematically by Medical College of Georgia psychiatrist Hervey M. Cleckley in 1941, psychopathy consists of a specific set of personality traits and behaviors. Superficially charming, psychopaths tend to make a good first impression on others and often strike observers as remarkably normal. Yet they are self-centered, dishonest and undependable, and at times they engage in irresponsible behavior for no apparent reason other than the sheer fun of it. Largely devoid of guilt, empathy and love, they have casual and callous interpersonal and romantic relationships. Psychopaths routinely offer excuses for their reckless and often outrageous actions, placing blame on others instead. They rarely learn from their mistakes or benefit from negative feedback, and they have difficulty inhibiting their impulses.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...ychopath-means