I totally agree with you about boundaries and discipline of children. We all need rules, rewards, and consequences. Without the parents involved in the lives of children, young people will do anything, including acting out in violent behavior. There are no moral or ethical grounds to tell them not to other than a society which they distrust and disrespect anyway.

School systems, church, and family are the 3 most important factors for young people developing rational behavior. Without them, we are handicapped from the start.

I personally believe that a lot of these problems could be prevented if there were both parents raising these kids, teaching and showing by example Right from Wrong. Also let the parents discipline their children, not beatings or playing mind games with their children, but show them that you love them by giving them clear direction and boundaries to live by.

At the same time the school systems should be allowed to discipline unruly students. Start taking these children to church and get them off the streets.

However, even under these dire circumstances, more often than not, their family knows of the potential rational breakdown of their mind. I do not believe the gene theory applies to these individuals. They are not “genetically prone” to violence prior to the event. Their mind and body have been altered by physical violence done to them.

As for the sociopath you have described, they are making choices. They make a choice to fit into society and hide their affinity for murder. They are also making choices to murder. These people are filling a need in their lives because of a warped and insane sense of being. They are in fact crazy. That should be the gene we are searching for due to the fact a very small percentage of society is crazy. We are all capable of violence, but I do not believe we are all crazy or capable of being sociopaths.

History has shown some sick individuals and the signs were there at an early age, but either went unnoticed or turned a blind eye. These sickos tortured animals and other things, KNOWING it was wrong, but enjoyed it. So it grew into adulthood and with human nature, the animal torture got old/boring/unsatisfying… so they move on to people. Yes.. still knowing it’s wrong, but they enjoy it, so it’s somehow justified in their minds.

I still don’t know how these people can be considered normal and be able to do the things they do. But, one thing that makes me second guess their “crazy minds”.. How come we hear of so many serial killers, I’m talking sick ones… that function completely normal in society.. so far as that when they are found out, no one can believe it? How can you be normal in every aspect of life and yet be so depraved that you can murder? Makes you wonder about what you were talking about.. making choices.