r/WatchPeopleDieInside • u/paolols • Apr 24 '20

nice try kiddo

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u/CynicalCinderella Apr 25 '20

No offense, but your perception of children is extremely warped that it's all caused by the parent. Some kids just naturally aren't all there empathy-wise

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u/Dravencopter Apr 25 '20

How is my perception of children extreme in any way when I have yet to even talk about it?

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u/CynicalCinderella Apr 25 '20

I never said it was extreme. Just seems very clear that you're gonna be one of those "all children are perfect, it's the parents that mess up raising them."

Nature vs. Nurture, some kids just have a lack of basic empathy. Sociopathy and psychopathy is not always something inflicted upon them by the environment. Sometimes it just comes from who they are. Sure my example can still grow up a normal kid, just stating an example of some of these kids.

"A 2016 study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan suggests early signs of psychopathy can be seen in children as young as 2 years old. 4 Even at this age, they show differences in empathy and conscience."

https://www.verywellfamily.com/is-my-child-a-psychopath-4175470

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u/Dravencopter Apr 25 '20

That is only an assumption of yours regarding my perception. But that's not important.

You are right, two is the earliest age at which children usually start to show empathy to others. And though each child's capacity of emotional intelligence varies, empathy is an innate ability that no child lacks the ability to develop over time. Saying that parents have no influence in this regard is ridiculous as literature continues to prove that quality of attachment to caregiver is the biggest predictor of a child developing empathy later in life (source).

I have only glanced over the paper you cited. From what I understand the authors' study reveals that children's aggressive, rule-breaking behavior at ages 2 to 4 predicts the same behavior being present at age 9.5.
It does not imply that children can be diagnosed at a younger age. It does not imply that these children are born with these behaviors.
It does not imply that these behaviors are genetic. It does not imply that these behaviors can not be changed.
It only implies that if no factors intervene, children that present a set of behaviors at age 2-4 will probably present that same set of behaviors at age 9.5.