1 in 100 kids is a psychopath, is yours?

PJ_Soul wrote:

Who Princess wrote:

catefrances wrote:

http://aww.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8525268

Most parents choose not to believe that some children are just born "evil", preferring to blame poor parenting for nasty kids — but a new study has found that 1 percent of babies could be inherently psychopathic.

Psychologists at University College London conducted two studies and found that 1 in 100 kids have psychopathic tendencies.

These kids — which psychologists describe as callous-unemotional — are characterised by their ability to lie, manipulate and commit acts of cruelty without remorse.

Other signs a child could be a psychopath include:

1. Very charming and engaging from a young age, exhibiting no shyness.
2. An inflated view of their abilities and self-worth: Psychopaths think they are better than others.
3. Constant need for stimulation: Takes risks, gets bored easily.
4. Pathological lying: Ranges from moderate — sly, crafty — to extreme deception, involving complex webs.
5. Manipulation: Exploitative and callously ruthless, without concern for others.
6. Remorseless: Unconcerned about losses, pain and suffering they inflict on others.
7. Lack of empathy: Cold, inconsiderate, contemptuous, but can act by imitation.
8. Early behaviour problems: Problem behaviour under 13 — lying, cheating, vandalism, bullying.
If your child exhibits any of these traits, don't despair. Study leader Professor Essi Viding says kids with psychopathic tendencies don't always go on to become full-blown psychopaths.

"For the group which has callous-unemotional traits, there's a strong genetic vulnerability," she says.

"This does not mean these children are born anti-social or are destined to become anti-social.

"But in the same way that some of us are more susceptible to heart disease, these children are people who are more vulnerable to environmental influences that trigger the anti-social outcome."

Australian researcher David Hawes from the University of Sydney agrees. He says his studies have suggested callous-unemotional children respond well to "warm parenting".

"The quality of a parent's emotional interaction and attachment with a young child is crucial to predicting if that child will develop this high-risk pattern of behaviour," Dr Hawes says.

"While CU characteristics seem to be largely under the control of genetics, if a child receives consistent and warm parenting in a secure family environment it can protect against those traits."

:eh: :think:
This sounds an awful lot like a boss I used to have . . .

It ABSOLUTELY describes my boss (really my boss's boss, but he's always there). Me and my coworkers ha e been describing him as a psychopath for a long time. It sucks. :evil: Now I know.... his parents didn't hug him enough. :lolno: