Naming something with a fancy Latin term, without explaining what you mean, is an example of intellectual snobbery...
From the article, especially since Michael could start and stop his tantrums at will... it did appear that he was manipulating his parents (even if for childish, nonsensical-to-adults reasons).
Although the writer indicated the mother was strict, no-where did it indicate that Michael consistently received any serious consequences for his terrible behavior. Should he get spanks for every infraction? Of course not, but willful disobedience....needs serious consequences.
The calm “I hate him” and other creepy behavior made me suspect not merely lack of discipline (i.e. spankings) is at work here, but possibly the occult.
I explained it. Latin sometimes hints that a line of thought is very, very old and well established. But I explained it in English. There is no syllogism and no conclusion. Only your trumpeting of your personal gut judgment with scarcely any evidence to base it upon.
One, it's not an uncommon term that educated shouldn't be expected to recognize. Two, he gave a parenthetical explanation along with the term.
The calm “I hate him” and other creepy behavior made me suspect not merely lack of discipline (i.e. spankings) is at work here, but possibly the occult.
Maybe I'm alone here, but I find the sheer number of replies that reference the occult as a possible explanation to be far scarier than I found the account of Michael.