After 9YO brutally attacked 23 animals, psychopathy expert debunks popular myths

The age-old debate about nature versus nurture when it comes down to it psychopathy has regained relevance following the shocking murder of more than two dozen pets by a 9-year-old last month.

In the incident, which took place on October 13 in Paraná, Brazil, internet users worldwide called for the child’s arrest after CCTV footage emerged of the boy ending the lives of 20 rabbits and three guinea pigs with his bare hands after breaking into a animal hospital in Brazil. Brazil.

“There is no treatment for psychopaths. This child should be locked up for life,” one reader wrote, echoing similar comments from hundreds of viewers who believed the boy’s condition was irreversible.

To finally understand whether childhood psychopathy can be cured, and how, Bored Panda spoke to Ph.D. Abigail Marshan author and professor of neuroscience at Georgia University, categorically denied the idea that psychopathy is incurable.

Neuroscientist explained how to treat child psychopaths, citing early intervention as the crucial factor in leading a healthy life

Image credits: cnnbrasil

“All mental disorders are associated with changes in the brain, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be treated,” Marsh explains. “Some treatments make a significant difference in symptoms and outcomes.”

Neuroscientists have done that long debated whether the disorder is the result of factors predetermined by genetics, or whether it is the environment in which the individual grows that precipitates his or her behavior. antisocial tendencies.

For example, a Study from 2015 by the University of New Mexico described psychopathy as “neurodevelopmental,” that is, a result of physical differences in the brain.

Dr. Kent Kiehl also stated in an article for Yale University that “there is no cure for psychopathy” after discovering in 2012 that they had reduced brain mass in the paralimbic system, responsible for processing emotions.

Image credits: cnnbrasil

“This is not surprising,” Swamp said when these studies were presented. “A large body of research has shown that genetics accounts for about half of the variation in many psychological outcomes.”

Despite this, Marsh explained that early detection and treatment make the difference between a child growing up to become a full-fledged psychopath who hurts those around him or becoming a productive and responsible adult.

“We know that early screening, diagnosis and treatment can dramatically change the trajectory of children with neurodevelopmental disorders like autism,” she stated, “recent analysis has shown that the same is true for childhood psychopathy.”

A fearless temperament, less motivation to seek positive rewards, cruelty to animals and a lack of interest in the emotions of others are some of the signs to look out for

Image credits: Abigail Marsh/TED talk

But how can a parent discover if their child is at risk of becoming a psychopath? For Marsh, the best way is to look at them behavior and how they respond to things that generally bring a child joy, such as rewards or treats.

‘The earliest signs of risk for psychopathy include fearless temperament – ​​not appearing afraid of things that other children fear, not learning from punishments such as time-outs – and being less motivated by positive social rewards,” Marsh explained.

According to her, hugs and cuddles mean little to a child psychopath, and they are also less able to distinguish the emotions of others.

Image credits: JR-50/stock.adobe.com (not actual photo)

“Children at risk for psychopathy pay less attention to the faces and eyes of others,” she added, urging parents to take a holistic approach to looking for cues, some of which can also be observed in children with autism.

For the professor and author, the problem is not that children at risk for psychopathy cannot be treated; it is that they are not treated at all.

“It’s tragic,” Marsh reflected. “The biggest problem is that far too few children are screened and diagnosed, and even when diagnosed correctly, only about half ever receive treatment.”

For treatment to be effective, parents must be involved as much, if not more, as the child at risk for psychopathy himself.

Image credits: JorgeAndres/stock.adobe.com (not actual photo)

Image credits: Michaela/stock.adobe.com (not actual photo)

After accurately diagnosing a child with the disorder, the next step involves the crucial participation of their parents or guardians.

“The treatments with the best evidence are forms of psychotherapy in which a therapist works with parents to teach them techniques to correct their child’s behavior,” Marsh explained.

“Sending a young child to therapy is often not very effective because they do not have the skills or self-regulation to apply therapeutic techniques themselves,” she added, emphasizing that it is the parents who need to be trained, because they will be the ones responsible for delivering the therapy.

“The treatments that appear to be most effective include Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Parent Management Training (PMT),” the doctor said. “Parents of children with psychopathic traits need to find a local doctor trained in one of these types of treatments.”

When it comes to medications such as stimulants, mood stabilizers and antipsychotics, Marsh stated that while they can be helpful, they should only be used as an adjunct to therapy.

Marsh cautioned against using the term “psychopath” for people with antisocial personality disorder, explaining that while they are similar, they are ultimately different diagnoses.

Image credits: victory path

Image credits: victory path

In combination with the story of the Brazilian child who attacked the veterinary clinicwe have dr. Marsh also provided the testimony of Vic, a TikTok influencer who goes by @victhepath, whose profile is entirely dedicated to her experiences “growing up as a child psychopath.”

Although several of Vic’s videos have been viewed more than three million times due to the controversial nature of labeling herself as a psychopath, her diagnosis was, in her own words, antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), a very different condition, according to Marsh.

“There is a lot of overlap between the two. Most people diagnosed with ASPD will also have high levels of psychopathic traits,” he said. “But a diagnosis of ASPD focuses more on behavior, such as committing criminal activities, aggression and deception. Psychopathy is a personality disorder.”

Marsh further explained that people with psychopathy can learn to regulate their behavior in such a way that they do not qualify for a diagnosis of ASPD.

“The most common mistake people make is assuming that someone with psychopathic traits will commit serious crimes or be very violent. That’s not necessarily true,” Marsh explained.

“Just as a person with an introverted personality can still learn to socialize more if motivated to do so, a person with psychopathy can learn to behave more prosocially if motivated to do so.”

Although psychopathy is often associated with violence in pop culture, it is not the disorder most strongly linked to extreme aggression

Marsh stressed the importance of not jumping to conclusions when labeling people who behave violently or cruelly, especially if they are children.

Analyzing the case of the 9-year-old who brutally murdered 23 animals, the doctor explained that there is more than one type of mental disorder that can increase the risk of violence.

“People with schizophrenia, for example, are seventeen times more likely to commit murder than a typical person, which is one of the reasons why it is so important to provide support and treatment to reduce their symptoms,” she explained.

Image credits: fizkes/stock.adobe.com (not actual photo)

“Without knowing whether this child was experiencing psychosis or some other problem, it is difficult to say whether he is a psychopath.”

The gruesome nature of the incident surprised the doctor: “(It’s) a tragic story.”

“This kind of behavior is not at all typical, even for children with psychopathic traits,” she added. “A child like this certainly could have benefited from early, accurate diagnosis and aggressive treatment.”

Because the Brazilian child was nine years old, he was not criminally responsible for any actions under that country’s law, and it is unclear whether he will be able to get the help he needs. Marsh recommended “residential therapy” in his case, due to the level of violence displayed and his parents’ apparent inability to handle it safely.

Dr. Marsh mentioned the dangers of her peers purposely misdiagnosing children to avoid the stigma of being labeled psychopaths, which can lead to ineffective treatments

Image credits: NKDO

Finally, we asked Marsh about the ethical implications of diagnosing children with psychopathy at an early age, due to the stigma surrounding the term. She says families are often more concerned about getting a proper diagnosis and treatment than about stigma.

“What families want is for doctors to be honest with them,” she said. “They know that an aggressive child who steals from people, destroys property, etc., will always be stigmatized because this behavior is (rightly) stigmatized. The label is not the problem.”

Marsh said she knows of cases where some of her peers have deliberately made incorrect diagnoses out of fear that the truth could harm the child due to stigmatization. “If you diagnose a child with psychopathic traits as autistic or depressed, they will end up in therapies that will not help them,” she said.

Image credits: silvergolf/stock.adobe.com (not the actual photo)

The doctor emphasized that although genetics may predispose some children to psychopathy, timely, appropriate and accurate treatment can prevent the worst consequences, turning someone who could otherwise become a danger to themselves and others into a healthy, functioning adult who can enrich the people around him. them.

“In my experience, this is what individuals and families affected by psychopathy want clinicians to focus on, not stigmatization.”

Those interested in the work of Dr. Abigail Marsh can visit her website, https://disordersofaggression.org/and check out her books Good for nothing And The fear factorin which the subject of psychopathy is discussed in depth.

The mail “Tragic Story”: After 9YO brutally attacked 23 animals, psychopathy expert debunks popular myths first appeared on Bored Panda.