Could Some Forms Of Punitive Parenting Lead To Creating A Sociopath?

[debf]

I have read before that most sociopaths are not violent individuals. They are the unscrupulous sales man(I am not saying that being a sales person leads to dishonest behavior, by the way), the serial cheater, the charming boy or girl friend who emotionally manipulates another person etc.

Some of the tactics that I read when I look into some of the punitive style sound as if these gurus are trying to create a sociopath. For example, teaching a child to pretend to be cheerful no matter how angry that they might be, or that a person with authority-whether they be a parent, husband or pastor-has unquestioning power over those who are under them.

Have their been any studies that show that such extreme parenting styles lead to creating some adults who have severe trouble with empathy?

[Chris3jam]

Hm. I'm not sure. I know that there are studies that show that abuse or neglect can lead to it.

[ArmsOfLove]

My personal opinion, and things I have seen in children raised with his methods, is that Ezzo could have written the manual for how to raise a sociopath. The detachment, the emphasis on day one that the child is "not the center of the universe", and ignoring cries . . . I've read a lot of true crime over the years and there are just common factors that tend to play into sociopaths and certain things are almost always part of their past.

Of course I also have to say that some of the sweetest people in the world were parented in less than stellar methods and continued to be the sweetest people in the world. So I do not believe that people are the sum total of how they were parented.

I do believe that there are all sorts of risks that can come into play when nature meets nurture with the wrong combination

[Green Orchid]

I was listening to a talk show today on the radio and the topic was about was makes psychopaths what they are. One of the common factors (although not exclusive, like Crystal pointed out) was a mother who over-shielded and built a narcisstic relationship around her son. So I can see how other parenting dynamics could foster other extreme negative behaviors.

But then again, there are socio/psychopaths who come from pretty normal homes. So it goes both ways.

[JoyInTheSpirit]

So I do not believe that people are the sum total of how they were parented.

Amen!

[saturnfire16]

Originally Posted by Green Orchid

I was listening to a talk show today on the radio and the topic was about was makes psychopaths what they are. One of the common factors (although not exclusive, like Crystal pointed out) was a mother who over-shielded and built a narcisstic relationship around her son. So I can see how other parenting dynamics could foster other extreme negative behaviors.

But then again, there are socio/psychopaths who come from pretty normal homes. So it goes both ways.

But how do we know those homes were "normal." A lot of them are normal in the 2 kids, dog, white picket fence, steady jobs, go to church every sunday kind of way. That doesn't make their childrearing methods normal or safe.

[aburrows]

For more info read Sociopath Next Door...its a great book and will give you an idea about some factors that could cause people to become sociopaths. Very very good book. I have a psych degree and a step brother who I fully believe is a sociopath. And according to the book a common denominator is the relationship the person has with their mother. But that book is the best one I have found to help explain it If you want more info I can find my book and answer questions

[Rabbit]

It is dangerous to look to the parents for an explanation of their offspring's mental illness. Freud tried it a lot, but there are no truly conclusive studies on the subject. Yes, you can make anything worse, or better, through parenting, but to create a sociopath from a mind that is otherwise healthy would take extreme abuse.

[debf]

Originally Posted by Rabbit

It is dangerous to look to the parents for an explanation of their offspring's mental illness. Freud tried it a lot, but there are no truly conclusive studies on the subject. Yes, you can make anything worse, or better, through parenting, but to create a sociopath from a mind that is otherwise healthy would take extreme abuse.

I should have used the word influenced instead of created. I do not think that we are merely victims of our childhoods nor do I think that a sociopath can't come out of a 'normal' household.

Some studies do show that emotional abuse can dampen a person's ability to feel empathy. I don't know if this is a shot term effect that disappears once the victim escapes the abuse.

I have read that some of Freud's patients might have been sexual abuse victims but his own personal mindset wouldn't accept that sexual abuse occurred in 'regular' families. I don't know if this is true or not.

I know some people have pointed out that a narcissistic mother can damage her children, but what about a narcissistic father? Isn't he damaging also.

[Rabbit]

There are different kinds of sociopathic behaviours or diseases, too. And a difference between psychopaths and sociopaths.

Reactive attachment disorder, left untreated, can lead to sociopathic behaviour.

[ArmsOfLove]

I have read that some of Freud's patients might have been sexual abuse victims but his own personal mindset wouldn't accept that sexual abuse occurred in 'regular' families. I don't know if this is true or not.

actually, he first published his studies to say that sexual abuse caused latent memories and fears and in the Victorian era where there was an incredible amount of sexual abuse Freud found himself with all his funding pulled. He regrouped and republished his paper and blamed it on the child's desires and his funding returned

[tigerlily]

but what about a narcissistic father? Isn't he damaging also.

I had a friend in college with a narcissistic father and it was definitely very damaging -- just as it would be to have a parent with any debilitating mental disease.

[sweetpeasmommy]

My therapist says my brother is a sociopath. And we were raised in a very punitive, unattached, ignore your feelings because you are not important type of home. He beat me far more than my parents ever did among other things. I don't know how he seems to others, but probably not the salesman type. Actually after looking up both definitions, I think she may have said psychopath, that seems to fit better.

[JoyInTheSpirit]

Come to think of it, I have 3 sisters. The third, four years older than I was diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder, not quite the same as a sociopath, I know. She was beaten on a regular basis however, which I think led to her developing this type of disorder. :/ Fortunately, I was never beaten with a belt, but I witnessed the abuse in our home (which we all know is damaging in its own way). So, while over all, I don't feel abuse makes a person who they are, it may start the ball rolling in that direction, if the person may already be predisposed to developing a mental illness.

[Chris3jam]

The problem with that sort of research is that hindsight is 20/20. The link between nature and nuture is not fully understood. We can 'guess' all we want, but we'll never be able to explain what may already be "miswired" naturally in someone that is brought out by or intensified by nurture, or if it would have happened any way, or why sometimes those with unbelievably horrendous childhoods can grow up to be some of the nicest people. One example is "The Boy Called It". Why did I turn out so incredibly different from my family? From the same family, one sees variation. No one can explain that yet. I think there is an incredible amount of danger in ascribing certain behaviours, and the way a child 'turns out', to just the way that child was raised.