What would you do if you knew your young child is a psychopath?

Akrasia · 27-08-2011 5:54pm #1

Psychopaths are people who are born without the capacity for empathy. They are extremely likely to grow up and commit some horrendous crimes. There is no cure. most psychopaths spend their lives in jail or a mental institution or are loose in society causing devastation to innocent people around them. If you were the parent of a 8 year old who you discovered was secretly torturing animals and displaying all the symptoms of being a psychopath, what would you do?

Crann na Beatha · 27-08-2011 5:55pm

This post has been deleted.

4zn76tysfajdxp · 27-08-2011 5:55pm

Difficult to tell. Children are generally lacking in empathy anyway. Selfish little bastards.

maiden · 27-08-2011 5:55pm

Turn them into a dexter style person!

orourkeda · 27-08-2011 5:56pm

Akrasia wrote: »

Psychopaths are people who are born without the capacity for empathy. They are extremely likely to grow up and commit some horrendous crimes. There is no cure. most psychopaths spend their lives in jail or a mental institution or are loose in society causing devastation to innocent people around them. If you were the parent of a 8 year old who you discovered was secretly torturing animals and displaying all the symptoms of being a psychopath, what would you do?

Set him on my mother in law

TiGeR KiNgS · 27-08-2011 5:56pm

Encourage them to kill only those that got off the justice system.
Worked for Dexter.

Son Of A Vidic · 27-08-2011 5:57pm

I'd probably flip.

El Guapo! · 27-08-2011 5:57pm

Train him to be a mercenary and send him off doing all cool Jason Bourne shít

Big Nasty · 27-08-2011 5:58pm

Give him Nurofen! :pac:

looky loo · 27-08-2011 5:58pm

Send him/her to an Irish school run by priests/nuns, they are great at torturing 8yr olds.

Diageio_Man · 27-08-2011 5:58pm

lock them in the attic and feed them fish heads its the only responsable thing to do.

hinault · 27-08-2011 5:58pm

Akrasia wrote: »

If you were the parent of a 8 year old who you discovered was secretly torturing animals and displaying all the symptoms of being a psychopath, what would you do?

I'd explain to the kid that torturing animal is wrong and that if they do it again, I'd flog them.

If I caught them doing it again, I'd flog them.

Pain is an excellent way of altering kids behaviour.

AG2R · 27-08-2011 5:59pm

Make sure I don't piss them off

RinkyDinkSlink · 27-08-2011 5:59pm

I've wondered about this myself many times. I'd like to think that I could 'train' them into appropriate behaviours. Failing that, I'd have them locked up and throw away the key.

AnonoBoy · 27-08-2011 5:59pm

I'm currently training a child to be a psychopath. He's not mine. I just found him in the backseat of a Volvo in the Ikea carpark.

Wolfe Tone · 27-08-2011 6:01pm

chokeslam

The Scientician · 27-08-2011 6:03pm

Love them all the more.

WalterMitty · 27-08-2011 6:12pm

they are literrally unable to experience empathy or guilt. Saw an episode of Law and Order SVU based on a real case of a boy mudering his infant neighbour . Killed child's father was a psychiatrist and knew the guy couldnt be cured so shot him in courthouse. They should be locked up for life or made wear a gps unit with camera necklace so everything they do can be monitored. They will adapt behaviour only if threatened with probable encarceration .

amacachi · 27-08-2011 6:14pm

WalterMitty wrote: »

they are literrally unable to experience empathy or guilt. Saw an episode of Law and Order SVU based on a real case of a boy mudering his infant neighbour . Killed child's father was a psychiatrist and knew the guy couldnt be cured so shot him in courthouse. They should be locked up for life or made wear a gps unit with camera necklace so everything they do can be monitored. They will adapt behaviour only if threatened with probable encarceration .

Got a link to the real case? :pac:

pragmatic1 · 27-08-2011 6:15pm

This is what abortion is for.

RinkyDinkSlink · 27-08-2011 6:16pm

WalterMitty wrote: »

they are literrally unable to experience empathy or guilt. Saw an episode of Law and Order SVU based on a real case of a boy mudering his infant neighbour . Killed child's father was a psychiatrist and knew the guy couldnt be cured so shot him in courthouse. They should be locked up for life or made wear a gps unit with camera necklace so everything they do can be monitored. They will adapt behaviour only if threatened with probable encarceration .

Saw this, one of my favourite episodes and the reason we were discussing this very subject lately. That little dude was truly fubar, very well played by the young actor!

biko · 27-08-2011 6:19pm

I don't know, I've no feelings on the matter.

WindSock · 27-08-2011 6:21pm

pragmatic1 wrote: »

This is what abortion is for.

You mean to tell me we aborted the wrong one? Damn you! Damn you all to hell!

Pherekydes · 27-08-2011 6:24pm

Train him to be an Irish rugby player.

flutterflye · 27-08-2011 6:27pm

My son has asd.
He lacks empathy.
He only apologises or does the 'right thing' if he knows that he will be punished otherwise - so it is purely selfish.
He doesn't care if he hurts someone.
He doesn't care about anything but himself.
What do I do about it?
Try to teach him empathy of course, and hope for the best!

Bowlardo · 27-08-2011 6:28pm

flutterflye wrote: »

My son has asd.!

what is ASD?

flutterflye · 27-08-2011 6:29pm

Bowlardo wrote: »

what is ASD?

Autism spectrum disorder.

CorkMan · 27-08-2011 6:38pm

I'd bolt him/her up against the wall in the basement.

Bipolar Joe · 27-08-2011 6:49pm

You can't really compare ASD and being a psychopath or sociopath.

And I would totally try and make them into an anti-hero, like Christian Slater in Heathers.

AnonoBoy · 27-08-2011 6:50pm

CorkMan wrote: »

I'd bolt him/her up against the wall in the basement.

That's playing right into their hands. That's what they want you to do. Then when they get loose, revenge will be all the more sweet.

Don't be a fool man. Send them to school as normal and then when they go on a rampage make millions from the 'We Need To Talk About Kevin' style memoirs you can write.

Ditch · 27-08-2011 6:58pm

Pack him off to be educated at Columbine

Susannahmia · 27-08-2011 6:58pm

I suppose I'd have to institutionalise them If they were dangerous. However technically a child under 18 can't be diagnosed officially with psychopathy.

Akrasia wrote: »

most psychopaths spend their lives in jail or a mental institution

Not true, 2% to 2.5% of the population are estimated to be sociopaths, most are not murderers, they just have no conscience and use people to get ahead whatever the cost on others. Many are very successful in business because of this. Most will never be "outed" or arrested of any crime.

Big Nasty · 27-08-2011 7:02pm

Ditch wrote: »

Pack him off to be educated at Columbine

Too much dude.

flutterflye · 27-08-2011 7:04pm

Bipolar Joe wrote: »

You can't really compare ASD and being a psychopath or sociopath.

And I would totally try and make them into an anti-hero, like Christian Slater in Heathers.

Is it or is it not relevant that my son lacks empathy?
What prey tell is the difference in technical terms?
I have experience of the exact thing the op is referring to, and stating how I deal with it.
The disorder is different, but both display this empathy deficit.
What is your reason for believing that the two cannot be compared?

Mahatma coat · 27-08-2011 7:06pm

If I could muster the ability to giv a **** I'd be so Proud of the little tyke.

I'd probably teach him how to pass himself off in 'normal' society so people wont realise he's different until he Shanks them

then I'd teach him the importance of a Deep grave and a good alibi

the purple tin · 27-08-2011 7:11pm

Susannahmia wrote: »

I suppose I'd have to institutionalise them If they were dangerous. However technically a child under 18 can't be diagnosed officially with psychopathy.

Not true, 2% to 2.5% of the population are estimated to be sociopaths, most are not murderers, they just have no conscience and use people to get ahead whatever the cost on others. Many are very successful in business because of this. Most will never be "outed" or arrested of any crime.

sounds like a lot of Irish politicians are sociopaths;).

Susannahmia · 27-08-2011 7:14pm

flutterflye wrote: »

Is it or is it not relevant that my son lacks empathy?
What prey tell is the difference in technical terms?
I have experience of the exact thing the op is referring to, and stating how I deal with it.
The disorder is different, but both display this empathy deficit.
What is your reason for believing that the two cannot be compared?

I think the difference is sociopaths know what is right or wrong, they just don't care.

Some people on the autistic spectrum may simply be unable to comprehend how exactly their behavior effects others and why.

Imo big difference.

Diddler1977 · 27-08-2011 7:16pm

This is a really interesting read about psychopaths.

Generally psychopaths cause the most trouble in prisons even though they are the minority of the prison population

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Psychopath-Test-Jon-Ronson/dp/0330492268

Sea Sharp · 27-08-2011 7:19pm

If he's a psychopath that doesn't mean he's doomed to a life of crime. He might just be a bit of a cun7 when he's older

flutterflye · 27-08-2011 7:24pm

Susannahmia wrote: »

I think the difference is sociopaths know what is right or wrong, they just don't care.

Some people on the autistic spectrum may simply be unable to comprehend how exactly their behavior effects others and why.

Imo big difference.

Different how?
A sociopath may 'know' right from wrong, but it's not their 'fault' that they don't care.
If they are just made that way, and someone with asd is made the way they are.
Neither is better or worse.
Both are disorders.
One is pc, and one isn't, that is all.

Anyway, I was only refering to the empathy aspect.

Chuck Stone · 27-08-2011 7:27pm

http://www.theonion.com/video/autistic-reporter-train-thankfully-unharmed-in-cra,20098/

moonlighting · 27-08-2011 7:31pm

www.imdb.com/title/tt0107034/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP4P-VgcM4s

Bipolar Joe · 27-08-2011 7:49pm

flutterflye wrote: »

Is it or is it not relevant that my son lacks empathy?
What prey tell is the difference in technical terms?
I have experience of the exact thing the op is referring to, and stating how I deal with it.
The disorder is different, but both display this empathy deficit.
What is your reason for believing that the two cannot be compared?

Here, "prey" to tell you, is some information. First off, ASD is as the name suggests a spectrum of disorders, meaning they're one or the other; Asperger's, autism or atypical autism. Psychopathy is not in that list. Psychopathy is mostly characterised by how they enjoy making other people miserable, not a lack of empathy like a lot of people think. It's not a case of they don't know or understand, they DO understand, but they like it. Psychopaths are manipulative, cunning and usually far smarter than your average person (Note, smarter does not mean they can look at toothpicks on the floor and instantly know how many there are). They're egocentric, sadistic and actively enjoy committing crime. "Prey" tell, does any of that sound like your son?

pragmatic1 · 27-08-2011 7:52pm

flutterflye wrote: »

My son has asd.
He lacks empathy.
He only apologises or does the 'right thing' if he knows that he will be punished otherwise - so it is purely selfish.
He doesn't care if he hurts someone.
He doesn't care about anything but himself.
What do I do about it?
Try to teach him empathy of course, and hope for the best!

Big difference between autism and psychopathy

.E_C_K_S. · 27-08-2011 7:53pm

My mother asked the same question and now she's dead hahahahaha

Reamer Fanny · 27-08-2011 8:18pm

Put him down.

charlemont · 27-08-2011 8:23pm

hinault wrote: »

I'd explain to the kid that torturing animal is wrong and that if they do it again, I'd flog them.

If I caught them doing it again, I'd flog them.

Pain is an excellent way of altering kids behaviour.

Yea, I'd be sick to my stomach if my child was torturing animals, I'd kick him hard.

I'm sure lots of psychopaths grow up normal if they are from a loving family.

Dyr · 27-08-2011 8:24pm

The funny thing is if you tied a breeze block around his neck and f**ked him in the canal, they'd call you a psychopath

minidazzler · 27-08-2011 8:27pm

Akrasia wrote: »

Psychopaths are people who are born without the capacity for empathy. They are extremely likely to grow up and commit some horrendous crimes. There is no cure. most psychopaths spend their lives in jail or a mental institution or are loose in society causing devastation to innocent people around them. If you were the parent of a 8 year old who you discovered was secretly torturing animals and displaying all the symptoms of being a psychopath, what would you do?

I'm amused at how you used "extremely likely" and "most psychopaths". It's simply not true that most psychopaths commit murder, just because they don't feel empathy doesn't make them want to kill people. In fact alot of CEO's and such are psychopaths who don't care who gets in their way so they get the job done...I'd put my kid to work in business.

Joey the lips · 27-08-2011 8:31pm

As i love my kids more than my own life i would protect them at all costs.

Samich · 27-08-2011 8:33pm

I'd be more worried with finding out I have a young child :P

What would you do if you knew your young child is a psychopath?

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