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To: From many - one.

I can’t think of any cases that would be known publicly. I only know of one example, from personal experience.

When I was a kid, my family was very close to the family across the road. We lived on a farm, with no other families nearby, and we kids were all pretty close in age. I knew them almost as well as I knew my own family. I never saw any indication of abuse in their home. Both parents and all but one kid were compassionate toward people and animals. But one of the boys enjoyed torturing animals, usually in creative ways.

I would have to say that example is not representative of a majority. Studies I’ve read suggest psychopathic tendencies are usually common within families (genetic link). While child abuse may be a contributing cause, it seems unlikely to be the sole cause. (My grandmother was horribly abused by her adopted parents, yet she didn’t develop any of those traits.)


74 posted on 12/18/2007 6:19:31 AM PST by LilAngel (FReeping on a cell phone is like making Christmas dinner in an Easy Bake Oven)
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To: LilAngel

Very often the abuse is hard to see. I don’t doubt that the parents seemed ok, but is it possible that they “over disciplined” one kid, or consistently favored the others.

I agree that there is a genetic component. It is well known that some severely abused kids grow up fine.


97 posted on 12/18/2007 6:56:30 AM PST by From many - one.
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