Where Politics And Video Games Collide

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisocial_personality_disorder

That link is all about something called Antisocial Personality Disorder. Something that, in light of the kid's actions and the letter from the Step-Mom, this kid most likely suffered from. Here's some highlights...

Common characteristics of people with antisocial personality disorder include:

Persistent lying or stealing
Recurring difficulties with the law
Tendency to violate the rights of others (property, physical, sexual, emotional, legal)
Aggressive, often violent behavior; prone to getting involved in fights
Disregard for the safety of self or others
A childhood diagnosis of conduct disorders
Lack of remorse for hurting others
Lack of guilt
Recklessness, impulsivity


This isn't something that boot camp, spartan living conditions or beatings can correct. With no guilt and no regard for the self or for others, what are you appealing to? He won't mind the pain, and he won't feel shamed. He won't follow authority and he won't care whether his parents love him or fear him...and he certainly won't fear or love anybody else.

Unfortunately, this is not something that can be diagnosed in a kid, although it's very apparrent that he suffered from it, or a similar disorder. It was only a matter of time before something like this happened, and other than medicating him, I don't think that there's anything that the parents could have done.