Sadly, I agree and I feel so sad for the parents.
A good friend of mine is a child psychologist. Many years ago, there was a tragedy in California where a 7 year old child killed a playmate by repeatedly bashing in his head with a rock.
I asked my friend how a child could possibly do this and what do you do about the child. He replied, just as was discussed in the article, that at that age the violent behavior is hardwired and there is virtually nothing one can do about it. The child is virtually predestined to repeat such violent acts.........
My friend is associated with the Wayne State school of Psychology here in Detroit. About 14 years ago he was assigned to do some research counseling at a prison located in Pontiac. The majority of the inmates he had to work with were murderers who came from the maximum security area of the prison. He said this was scariest study that he had ever had to conduct in his life and that he literally was afraid to be in close contact with these people......
I for one, did read the article. While the writer claimed the parents were strict—and had followed every kind of advice and book they could get their hands on—nowhere did it indicate that Michael had consistently received serious consequences for his terrible behavior. Spankings to the NYT kind of writer/editor are OF COURSE off limits.
Christian scripture though, says it shouldn’t be. Angry abusive spankings/beatings are usually confused by modern liberals with normal parental discipline, which should never be done in anger. So they do neither, and permissiveness reigns, which is really awful for a willful child.
Kid’s at 1.5 years old will start to test boundries and pull mommy’s chain, as much as possible...depending on the personality of the child. If the terribly violent tantrums brought nothing but pain (spankings) or other thoughtful punishments appropriate to the crime...(and NOT attention—catering-to & doting, which is usually what they’re wanting) then kids learn that its not worth it.
It sounds as if this yuppie couple did just the opposite, doting on and trying to molify the angry child—so he just kept it up (as that’s what he wanted...). When they started out of weariness to not dote—he just upped the volume and time...until they did, again and again and again. The article sounds like the parents’ lack of consistent serious consequences (discipline) really were part of the problem.
The kid’s seeming planned creepiness, and coolly proclaimed hatred for his brother...also make me wonder at what kind of religious ethics the parents have too—as no child should be allowed to express and hold that kind of rank evil attitude, even at age 9. A typical college educated morally-pluralistic couple though, may think otherwise....