Some end up as CEOs, others end up on fraudulent permanent disability hanging around the neighborhood cuckolding husbands and having a go at the young girls as well (I know someone just like that.) The Watertown shooter had issues to be sure, but I don't see psychopathy/sociopathy as one of them.

In the same way I kind of felt that it was incorrect during the campaign for people to accuse Romney of being one of them as well - the thing is, psychopaths, though they feel no normal human emotions are excellent imitators - this gives them part of their power to manipulate. Someone as clearly uncomfortable as Romney didn't fit the bill, in my estimation.

had only been more patient he would have ended up running (list your favorite company).

Romney's treatment of his dog Seamus and his classmate John Lauber??? Well, you'd have to prove to me that Romney feels any empathy whatsoever. I'd say the jury is still out on that one.

Romney didn't seem psychopathic but high on narcassism. Who really can tell though. If I had to guess I would say a good example of a psychopath in politics is Edwards. He always has a gleem of superficial charm to him.

The dumb ones spend a lot of time in jail

It's not the children. Why is everyone so willing to ignore the role of the parents. Why is it that we cannot find it to actually hold these parents accountable for their acts.

Kids do not just cut the tails off cats. They've either been tormented, neglected, confused, etc.

As frustrating as this is to watch, at least we've graduated from "It's the guns", to something more in line with reality.

It's the parents!

Consider that the Lanza's have one normal, well-adjusted son and one mass-murderer son. It's unlikely that they reared them very differently. A significant difference might be that he was younger when his parents divorced. It's also possible that the older boy was more attached to his father and the mother favored the baby. Note that Ryan entered his father's profession.

Adam's insanity is more likely to have been caused by genetic factors or by pre-natal developmental problems. These may be compounded by parenting, but children also spend a lot of their lives in school interacting with teachers and other kids. Adam also seems to have been pretty isolated to his mother's house after high school, but probably interacted with other gamers on the net.

I think you nailed it. When a child is born with developmental disabilities, the cards are already stacked against him/her. Parenting gets even more challenging.

As a Special Education teacher,I see the dynamics change constantly. There is not a "one-fix" solution. Each situation has to be measured individually and ALL parties--parents, doctors,educators --need to be on the same page when it comes to intervention. THIS is where it gets very complicated. Many times parents are resistant to the diagnosis and medical intervention OR a professional might not quite see what the parent is trying to explain. (this happened with my AD/HD child--finally we got the right meds and doctor!)

What makes it so hard to hear in this case is that the mother, while obviously concerned for Adam, seems to have been trying to do most of this on her own. While teaching a child the right way to shoot a gun, keep the damned thing locked up. And for God's sake, don't trust that they won't be curious when you're not around.

I know this situation was much different considering Adam already had serious emotional outbursts, but I just can't wrap my head around how these guns were so easily accessible in her home,with her knowing he was this unstable.

That just seems idiotic to me. Asking for trouble. I don't care if she did have a gun safe. It obviously wasn't safe enough. Adam lived in his Mom's house. He probably knew exactly where she kept the key.

There are brain differences in psychopaths. Not even psychiatrists know how to treat them. Placing blame on the parents may make you feel better but will do nothing to solve the problem.

I've done the research. I'm fully convinced that these problems are almost always created by the environment children are raised in.

Judging from the replies, I'm prepared to see untreated people, and more violence. We're all just arguing.

There's also Dr. Gabor Mate's studies that reveal similar findings.

Parenting combined with the pace and disconnect of modern society. End of my ranting. You can all take it from here. Good luck.

I'll say it again, if you're interested in really learning more-

-Dr. Gabor Mate
-Alice Miller

But it seems like you've already made up your mind.

I think their messages are just hard for modern parents to accept.

But the neuropathways in the brain are being stimulated, for good or for bad, and that is how it is. Empathy must be developed. We are not born with it. Unless people are able to understand this, they will continue to screw up their kids without realizing it.

ever read or observed about babies and toddlers.

Here is just one article on empathy in babies and toddlers. http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200607/Quann709BTJ.pdf

you will see the answer matches mine.

All the newest science shows that psychopaths are born bad, they are physiologically incapable of seeing that what they are doing is wrong, the connections between the limbic system and the prefrontal cortex involved in moral behavior are broken.

Furthermore, I am cynical regarding much of the so called research. They may be correct, but they may also be missing pieces. As in the research Miller sights regarding brain development in utero. That means that even before the child is born the parents may be making a psychopath out of them.

And then there's alcohol use during pregnancy, and nicotine, etc.

The bottom line for me is, we can do better. And we can make this a better world. But not if we patch the symptoms only.

In other words, science that goes against your own beliefs.

there are physiological differences, but they must be TRIGGERED by something in the environment. There was recently a program on a science channel (can't remember which one) that studied the brain differences between 'normal' people and psychopaths. While they found distinct differences in psychopath's brain physiology, they also noted that a good portion of 'normal' people also had the same physiological differences in their brain (including the person narrating the program, and the doctor conducting the brain scans). So while all psychopaths might have that same brain construct, not all normal people have 'normal' brain construct.

So, in my opinion, children who are taught and shown empathy at a young age that have the 'psychopath' wiring, are more likely to make new neural connections in the brain that will ensure they don't end up as psychopaths. Children who have the 'psychopath' brain who aren't shown empathy, or are raised, for instance, in a strict authoritarian household, may be more prone to becoming psychopaths, having never experienced empathy enough as a child to 'fix' their brain.

This is all just theorizing of course. As someone who has narcissism (NPD) that runs in both sides of my kids' families (my ex may actually BE a psychopath - he checks every single AsPD trait), I did a bit of research on what the chances were that my kids may inherit a faulty gene, since it IS thought to be partially genetic, and I found estimates give it a 50-50 chance. I spend a lot of time with my kids teaching them about empathy because of this. Jury's still out on whether or not it will work, but my kids, so far, are very empathetic people.

The notion here is that we can make a better world. This is a big step in the right direction.

High glycemic foods, alcohol, nicotine, any number of things that we've been doing can be the causes for what creates sick people.

I just think that there is hope that this is within our ability to improve. It won't improve by banning high capacity weapons. In the interim, that certainly will help.

still is by some right wing wackos. The scientific community as a whole has deemed psychotic behavior in children as differences in the brain, not parenting. I think I'll take the scientific community's word for it if you don't mind.

This is the stigma that some parents have to deal with, and the insinuation that their parenting skills caused the mental problems of their children may make it less likely that they seek help. As I stated down below, my son has a personality disorder. He couldn't have been more loved, had more stability, early intervention, etc. Yet you believe that the environment that I provided and the parenting that I provided caused my son's illness? How are you qualified to make that statement? You can claim that you did research and that it is just your opinion, but to make these claims using a broad brush is not only insensitive and hurtful, but it is dangerous as well. Clearly you haven't walked in the shoes of someone dealing with the overwhelming fear, sadness, and worry about their child who isn't typical.

I can't say more than that. My suggestion comes from caring and hoping that light be shone, and consciousness be obtained. I've read just about everything I can get my hands on. And it's quite surprising the discoveries that were made. I thought I came from the absolutely perfect family. No offense was intended.

She also endured child abuse. So there is also a personal credential.

The context of much of what she writes is in contrast to the 4th Commandment. Thou shalt honor thy mother and father. Even if they abused you. Almost every abused child grows up in denial that it ever happened. They turn into George Bush's, Romney's, Hitlers. And the most recent killer.

She spent decades studying this. But what makes her work more valuable is that she found results. Hospitals that were forcing women to eat when they were anorexic. She found that when the abuse was uncovered, they no longer needed hospital "help". The stories go on and on. Her books are earth shattering. She found a connection between the emotional crippling, and physical health. Depression and inability to express emotions. No Prozac.

And the bottom line is we have all been mistreated. This isn't just a sparse group. This is all of us. And that's why we need a new health care infrastructure that is sensitive, and truly helpful.

Well, I've spent a day typing on this forum. I never was this involved. But I honestly see this as the way forward to a future for a better world. Getting over these issues, and maturing into whole and healthy people. Better politicians, fewer wars. It can be done. But it's a lot of work. Maybe now we can get our priorities straight.

How objective can she be?

I know a family, the x family. Nicest parents you ever met. Oldest son we used to call The Snake! Psychopath since I knew him, age 14. Other 2 sons are the nicest propel you would ever meet. Oldest son is very, very successful - on Wall Street. He is on his 5th wife. Still a psychopath.

...and the kind of horrific "blame mom" psychology of the bad old days of psychoanalysis and "Blank-Slate" Behaviorism. The reaction to that crap has been so strong that in recent years it's gone too far in the other direction. I know plenty of good people with really messed up kids.

I've ever read. What a crock of shit.

disregard other contributing factors for mental illness in adults or children. And yes, I have done my research too.

We can't say it is either one thing or the other, and Alice Miller would not have said so, either. Her argument is that parents need to respond appropriately to meet their children's needs. Unmet needs create chemical reactions that harm the developing brain. Too much adrenalin, for example. The brain can be harmed when babies are left to cry too much. That sort of thing.

She did not assume or put forth the idea that there is an ideal for perfect parenting or that the average mistakes that parents can and do make results in lasting damage to children.

You are right that the environment is also of importance. The notion that these disorders are 100% caused by "bad parenting" is very old school. Mate is strictly a physician, not a psychiatrist, by the way.

She wasn't totally ignored. There are a good amount of psychologists who are in agreement with her.

I about give up. I've been trying this weekend to post more than I ever have on DU. I've mostly encountered rage and disagreement.

So, once again I see a means to a better world, and I guess we'll just patch the symptoms.

Thanks. I felt good seeing your reply.

I have to add that when I read Alice Miller for the first time I was not prepared for something so simple to have such a profound effect on my life. I'll never see things the same way again. And I also know that what I thought was the most perfect upbringing was actually a horrible one. And I'm recovering. It has brought me great freedom from my emotional jail sentence of the last 40 years. She was brilliant.

And thanks for your observations regarding the past few days here. It has been stressful and I have gone and posted some outrageous stuff as a result.
It's always nice to find that you are not alone.

Problems that are currently not treatable. Blaming the parents of sociopaths for their actions is idiotic.

... please spell out your credentials for making such a ridiculous claim.

CAN'T do anything that will solve.

The difference between those two sets of circumstances is EXTREMELY important.

A small number of cases are true problems we can't solve with psychotherapy.

And I appreciate your kind reply, unlike those above. I really have spent quite a lot of time studying this. It's not like I'm just pulling stuff out of a hat.

The sad thing is, almost everyone is in denial about this. The old 4th Commandment has people blinding themselves to where the real trouble lies.

I'm kind of tired of seeing how simple the solutions are, and getting nowhere. I've been on this forum quite a while, and I'm running out of steam. I can't solve the world's problems. Especially when the arguments are so counterproductive. All of the yelling and name calling. Hell, we're just trying to make the world a better place.

Anyways, thanks for letting me post that under your reply. I don't mean any disrespect.

And in case you haven't read my posts, and are interested, two people who really know their stuff are Dr. Gabor Mate and Alice Miller. Look no further. One treated ADD for years, before learning it's true source. The other made basic discoveries into the emotional traumas caused by almost all parents.

factors is so extremely important, why trial and error is NOT an acceptable strategy.

I didn't mention above, though, and the article posted here makes very good reference to this point, how even that "small fraction" that is actually most strongly biological (not affected that much by environment/nurturing/parents) has huge consequences because of the behavioral effects of this particular problem. It's an example of how "small" things aren't really very small at all and I hope all of us can start thinking about what that means, so maybe we can develop some chance, whatever chance possible, of dealing with this sort of thing better.

Again, thanks for the research references; I will look for publications, as I (personally) know quite a few people who are interested in these kinds of questions.

See you around, Gregorian.

and I'm flabbergasted by this article!! He has hit his friends every single day since the beginning of school. And no one believes me when I describe his behavior. He lacks empathy and when he is told not to hit because it hurts his friends, he does not give a rats a ss. It is so frustrating.

I just had chills reading that. He is being evaluated. so far "at risk" and ADHD are being considered as are impulse control issues, but the therapist does not seem to understand or comprehend the lack of empathy. It is scary.

W O W

that their autistic children were that way because the mothers didn't love them in the womb. They were called refrigerator mothers. I'm glad that when I had my son in 1990 this was no longer thought. It's bad enough to have a child with a disorder but to blame the parents is just cruel.

People on here are acting exactly like the right wing nuts. Opinion does not equate to fact. Science is our friend. Sometimes I think the liberals reject science as much as republicans do. They just reject different scientific ideas than the republicans do. Oh, so the mother was a gun nut. That must mean that all of his problems were caused by his mother. Give me a break.

When people started criticizing it in the 70s and 80s they were called Fascists and bigoted reactionaries.

Unfortunately, now it's gone too far and the "genes are destiny" Evolutionary Psychology foolishness has in it's turn jumped the shark.

Because studies show that parents have a negligible effect on behavior. It's about 50/50 genes and environment with both playing off each other. The parents are only a small part of the environment (though a huge part of the genes). Children listen to their peers more than their parents and experiences outside the home are more influential. The most glaring example of this are children born to immigrants. Their children speak with the accent of their peers, not of their parents.

These studies you're mentioning, are well after the period of time in which I'm talking about.

The damage can already be done before the child is born. And there are examples in Miller's books regarding that.

Of course what you say is true. And Dr. Gabor Mate discusses the role peers play in raising a child. That's another topic, but very much related.

The important part of all of this is that we're discussing the root of the problem rather than the symptoms. This discussion is a very hot topic. People are unwilling to address it. But it is a great improvement over discussing only gun control. By addressing this issue, we are truly trying to alter a multiplicity of things that are wrong with the world. War, politics, drug abuse, women's rights. They all stem from this. Just look back at the Bush administration if you want to see the examples that were the fruits of abused childhoods.

Oh....OK.

Of course one starts to learn to speak pretty early.... and again, the accent is "fixed" by like age 4? 6?. That's pretty early.

Babies don't just stay at home. And they are absorbing everything around them. Think of how much more "environment" there is to pick up on in one trip to grandma's than a day at home. And at home the TV and radio are bringing in the outside (even if they don't understand the words)... as well as visitors.

Anyway, I'm no expert. I just read Pinker's "The Blank Slate". Really interesting.

Scientists who scanned the brains of men convicted of murder, rape and violent assaults have found the strongest evidence yet that psychopaths have structural abnormalities in their brains.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/07/us-brains-psychopaths-idUSBRE8460ZQ20120507

Very curious. I wonder if psychopaths might be manufactured. By parents.

And I can find a source. But it's buried in one of the Alice Miller books. She's the author, if you want to check her out. And I totally advise everyone who was once a child to read her. She has the solution to what ails the planet. It's just too uncomfortable for most to even go near.

We're going to make a better world, if we want to.

There's more and more evidence that there is a biological basis for many of these behaviors. Psychologists no longer believe in Skinner's black box theory. Children are not a blank slate, just waiting to be written on by the parents. Their personalities are a result of a COMBINATION of genetic and environmental influences, with the latter starting in the womb.

I've posted it elsewhere, and all I can give at the moment is another reference to Alice Miller. It is published in several of the books she has written on her research.

You're absolutely right about environmental influences while in the womb. There are even studies that have shown brain alterations from attempts to get children to become great musicians by playing music to unborn.

There is a lot we know, and a lot more to learn. What I find so disturbing is how much we know that is being all but ignored.

At first I was disturbed by the combatant nature of this discussion. But now I'm grateful that we on this forum are elevated above just the notion that banning guns, and the like, is the solution.

We're trying to make a better world for everyone. That is the goal.

Parents are responsible. And for a large part of the dysfunction that is present in the world. I strongly suggest to anyone who was ever once a child that they read any of Alice Miller's books. They truly are earth shattering. So much so that even the therapists have shunned them. It's just too difficult to accept.

There are narcissistic parents and other parents who can do great damage to their children.

However, there are also children who are born with a high degree of biological susceptibility to mental illness or addiction and it takes little in the environment to push them over the edge. Even healthy, loving parents can end up with children with these problems.

During the era Alice Miller wrote that book, others were saying that autism was caused by "refrigerator mothers." We no longer blame autism on poor parenting; and we should be careful about blaming other conditions on parents, too.

Some parents are terrible parents who damage their children -- yes. But not every child with behavioral or emotional problems was raised by bad parents.

get us past finding someone or something to blame. Or maybe "It's the mental illness" would be better.

I strongly recommend that you, and all others participating in this thread, take the time to read Demitri and Janice Papolos' The Bi-Polar Child for good discussions of the nature vs. nurture debate. (The Papolos' come down pretty firmly on the 'nature,' i.e., genetics, side of the debate.)

And i hope they take them away. All of them. bye!

Sounds like you are stuck in the backwards psychoanalytic "blame mom" mindset.

That psychopathy is something that one is born with.

I think it is dangerous to spread memes blaming parents; this contributes to the stigma of mental health. Parents who have psychopaths will cover it up, not seek help for fear of shunning, and we will be further form solving some violent shootings.

BTW: imagine having a psychopathic child due to no fought of your own, and having people suspect you because they read a couple books.

It is completely unfair to assume that parents cause all mental problems. As a teacher, I have seen fantastic parenting that could not overcome whatever issues that a child had. I have an 18 year old son who was recently diagnosed with a personality disorder. He has always been odd, but he has never been violent. I am not saying that I am a perfect parent, but as a teacher and counselor, I'm very aware of warning signs, effective discipline practices, and how to interact with children...yet here I am with a narcissistic/borderline kid.

...when even professionals have no effective treatment for the condition. You can't teach people how to have feelings and there is no drug you can give people to make them have feelings.

Just sayin ...

genetic component, but how come some are willing to say it is genetic, and then discount the effects of parenting? If
SOME kids seem to turn out fine, and others have a genetic reason for their illness, why does it not also seem likely the one with a genetic propensity to have problems MIGHT NEED BETTER PARENTING than their siblings could handle and turn out "OK?" By BETTER parenting, I mean that all children need to be attached to and have their needs met by consistent and loving caregivers. Many parents barely provide this.
Children are expected to adapt to ever changing caregiving, from six weeks of age, and they see their parents on weekends, if then. I'm speaking about the typical two parent working family where both parents are driven and work long hours. IF there is another constant and attached adult taking the majority of the care, they may do OK. Many children don't get this because it would mean having a long term live in (usually family) member taking those duties on. Young children need tons of focused, responsive care. Lacking this, and if a child has a genetic propensity towards unattachment, there is trouble. And it is on a continuum. Some grow up to be President, some blow up schools.

who monitor their every move?

How do these children feel about that style of upbringing?

I've read pieces written by the parents of Jeffrey Dahmer and Dylan Klebold, and they had no idea their sons were capable of terrible things. They will spend the rest of their lives in a hell that they don't deserve, and you're saying that they should have done a better job?

a lot of what we consider to be 'normal, loving' parenting, isn't, really. For instance, my parents SEEMED loving on the outside, to everyone who knew us. I was dressed well, physically well taken care of and well behaved (and got straight-A's in school) so we seemed like a great family. What people didn't know is the small, crazymaking crap my parents did behind closed doors, every fucking day of my life. Invalidating, gaslighting, minimizing, ridiculing was (is!) part of every conversation. Treating me as part of the furniture was their way of life. I'm certain, if I'd have done something violent instead of doing self-harm and darn near drinking myself to death at age 13, my parents would've been aghast and confused and said things like, "we have a loving home" and "we never could've seen this coming". I was lucky enough, I think, that as a toddler I spent most of my time with an exceptionally patient, kind and loving aunt who probably showed me empathy and enough self-worth to help me through as I got older.

You can't always tell if it was a 'loving home' by what the parents (or neighbors) say.

...caused by the "repressed memories of abuse" nonsense 25 years ago.

care to elaborate?

helicoptering.
And parents are sometimes clueless about their children's developmental needs. Many parents go through the motions and their minds are on their jobs. Many parents equate giving their children things with giving children time. Parenting that is responsive and tuned in takes focused time. It requires being there and reacting appropriately. Appropriate is different for each child's individual personality and day to day life experiences. It can't be outsourced, and it can't be simplified.

A large one. Genes manifest themselves in trends towards behavior. The environment either supports trends or suppresses them.

They do not.

Parents cannot control the environment even in their own houses. It's more than just blocking channels on TV.

go for a hammer or screwdriver. (Actually happened to my wife and me.) So then you lock up all your hardware. And the child may then go for a pen or pencil. So do you lock up all your writing implements too?

strongly influence formation of empathy. All children are born good. But if their needs for security and loving care are not met they can become "non-attached" and fail to develop empathy. Parents meet or insure that needs are met, and this is what is meant by controlling the environment. Parents also need to be present to help children when outside factors intrude, because bad things DO happen.

How many Senators patted US veteran Bob Dole on the shoulder and then refused to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities?

un/underemployment, poverty, dubious charity and economic apartheid with all its negative impacts is pretty much a society which lacks empathy on a large scale.

As we raise more hopeless youth who don't give a shit about society we're going to reap what we've sewn.

the Great Depression, and this sort of behavior? Because I know for myself I feel very helpless in my own society, like I can't make a difference against the swathes of corruption in our gov't and business. I know my kids know how I feel. I wonder, how will they feel when they are older and are thinking more about how our society works (or does not?)

the ramifications are dangerous.

Shows us how little we know. One of my brothers was difficult from the age of two. Nothing like the children described here. But he did what he wanted to do, period. Something wasn't there that made him want to please others. He was very manipulative as well. Fortunately, he never became a violent adult, but he never became a full human being. Something just wasn't there that was present in all the rest of us. And you can't blame our parents. None of the rest of us were like that.

So please don't make statements blaming parents for a child who torments a family pet. At one time. schizophrenia was always blamed on " cold" mothers. Now we know better than to blame them, but we caused much angst to many women who thought this was true

parents of emotional disturbed kids need Soooooooooooo much support and help , you have no idea .

I hope and pray for an end to this violence

I had a bi-polar parent.. and a bi-polar brother.

I'm sure you know of the chaos it causes.. most people would not believe it...

These kids that are doing the shootings all follow a very similar pattern... they are from divorced parents... on heavy duty anti-depressants (Zoloft) and they are heavy users of violent video games.

Guns are only a by-product. We are ignoring the primary cause of this disease in our society.

Both Dems and Republicans want to cut funds for mental health even MORE than the paltry rates now.

If we can afford to send $22 Million last month to Egypt.. we can afford to provide a few beds for mental health in our society...or expect these shootings to continue.

I can't imagine how hard it must be on you. You are absolutely right. There needs to be more help. A lot more help.

who haven't lived through it have absolutely no idea what it's like.

Thanks for posting it.

Columbine. Eric Harris. Born evil

... and plopping them in front of tvs (seriously, you need a DVD in your freaking CAR because 15 minutes is too long to spend with your kid?) and video games rather than allowing them to burn off energy outdoors (you know - play, the old fashioned way?) and diverting our precious yuppie time to engage them in conversation about their daily lives, fears, dreams & activities.

More research needs to be done on the long term effects of those mind-numbing meds that we pump into our little ones - are they creating a generation of Manchurian Candidates? We truly have no idea.

While I do agree there are 'bad seeds' out there, I think for 95% of the cases, we brought this on ourselves.

then screwing them up. This might happen in a small number of cases but the reality is _something_ was going on for them to be prescribed the meds in the first place.

Mine is only anecdotal evidence, but my son is better on Focalin and Prozac than off and by better I mean, not hurtful and mean and nasty and, as he got older, a little scary. It's not his fault. He comes from a long line of mood disorders. At least 6 generations worth that I have been able to track down so far.

I will add that I am better on mood stabilizers and SSRIs than off. For some of us that's just the way it is.

... What are the long term effects of these meds that " take the edge off"? Are we seeing the first generation of neuron-damaged recipients of the meds? Do any of the pharm companies have data to show one way or another? Ling term use of drugs like coke etc cause personality changes, why is it hard to imagine drugs like Adderal do the same?

I have a 21 yo daughter who I took to counseling when she was about 8 years old. We had recently relocated & she was turning inward & schoolwork was suffering. The counselor's solution after one 45 minute appointment? Meds. Not "let's talk about how you're feeling, little one." or "Let's come up with some strategies to start to feel better", but meds. For an 8 year old. Bullshit.

brain chemistry to within acceptable parameters. Yes, they do cause personality changes. In essence that is what we are looking for from some of these meds. Some kids you can deal with these things with counseling. Some kids need a physiolocial apprach in combination with the psychological.

I dragged my heels against meds for 3 years worried about what they would do to my young son's brain. It was a reasonable concern, however we would have saved him and ourselves 3 years of misery had I acquiesced sooner.

Again, I can't speak for everyone. Mine is just anecdotal evidence. Perhaps someday we can improve our understanding of the brain to the point that pills are not the answer, that some other therapy is. Until then, though, I guess we are faced with this dilemma.

It was all over Slate a few weeks ago.

It 's good to know that someone is finally trying to get the answers and to create an effective treatment for children like Michael.

a sociopath. Every family member who has to deal with him in any way is afraid of him. Even his own father (adoptive), who he has threatened to kill.

I am concerned that he will someday be in the news in a bad way. I am glad that I am not on his radar, and live nowhere near him.

The cousin who told me all this says her mom (the boy's aunt) was afraid of him when he was a little kid even. I told her that he always gave me the willies - he had a feral, predatory look in his eye at the age of 5 and is scary smart, too.

who have exhibited some of the manipulation, ruthlessness, and calculating behavior that these kids show. If therapists can at least work on dissuading violent behavior and building empathy, that would go a long way in society.

Called The Stone Boy.

I actually found a PDF you can read online:

http://olympia.osd.wednet.edu/media/olympia/departments/english/bronemann/english_10/stone_boy-1.pdf

I taught at this school, where the administration was afraid of the parents, the parents were afraid of the kids, and the kids were afraid of nobody. Most were absolute brats, so "entitled" they treated teachers like their hired help.

There was a 7th grader who was extra unruly. He did, however, make a positive connection with the science teacher. One day he announced that if he were to bring a gun to school and kill all the teachers, he wouldn't shoot the science teacher.

The administration's response? "Isn't it wonderful how much he loves the science teacher!"

I left after one year.

to believe only a psychopath is capable of doing what Adam Lamza did. Nobody really has any idea what was going on with him. I don't think a "normal" well-adjusted will ever understand how years of isolation and bullying can turn a person with any kind of underlying anger problem into a potential monster that could pull something like this off in a blind fit of rage.

I also deeply resent the notion that autism and psychopathy are related at all. I have autism and I am far from "unemotional". My problem is caring too deeply rather than not caring enough. I can't stand cruelty and injustice.

issues with socialization/language when they are younger. It's only when these kids turn into adults, that the diagnosis is often changed to something else. I have doubts that he just had Autism. People with Autism would not be likely to commit this type of act.

By the way, with the very limited info that we have about Adam Lanza, it doesn't sound to me like he has that disorder. I base this only on what has been reported by people who knew him. A proper diagnosis can only be done by a person who has interviewed family members, teachers, friends AND have interviewed the client multiple times. And since I have done none of the above, I am inappropriately offering up my opinion.

http://behavenet.com/antisocial-personality-disorder

it used to be called Psychopathic and Sociopathic Disorder and all other kinds of names in the past. They change the names of these disorders about every 10 years (just to confuse everyone). AND there is a new version of the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, American Psychiatric Association) coming out in about a year so who knows if they will change the name AGAIN. argggggg! Which means everyone will need to get the new DSM V and toss out their DSM IV's and their Synopsis of Psychiatry books (which I just bought this year).

I've been in the field since 1981 and I can't keep up with all the name changes, the theories about what causes these disorders. People in the field use old terminology and theories all the time too - so the general population can hardly be expected to keep up with this.

In addition, for obvious reasons, complete studies of people's brains cannot be done at this time (things are getting better with a lot of the brain-imaging equipment, etc.) so compared to data about the heart, we know maybe about 1/20th as much about the brain (this is probably being generous on my part).