Why children are psychopaths.

First, let it be said that true morality and conscience1 are actually very subjective things. We, as a society insist on objectifying them. So therefore, morals and conscience are derived from public opinion (mob rule) — and from there, are extrapolated into laws; thereby justifying the mob's decision.

• What this means is that:
  
• The choice/action is indicative of morality, not the absence of choice/action2.
• Those who act merely for the law's sake cannot have true morals, as true morals are a choice.
• In our society, we learn to live with the idea (and even impress it upon others) that the status quo is our moral guide. One in sync with society has morals, one not in sync does not.

So, yes, morals and conscience are different for each person. However, in our society, we choose to allow the mob to guide us in most of them. These ideas all begin with this premise, though personally, I choose not to agree with some of society's morals. I am what I would call a ‘selective psychopath’.

Generally, I follow the rules instilled in me by society. At times, though, I follow a higher authority, myself.

Or rather, they are. The problem in the decision is perspective. According to society they are, but based upon science, they can't be. The general simple definition of a psychopath is basically ‘one without a conscience’. Basically - a person who doesn't allow society's rules to govern them. Unfortunately the most well known type of psychopaths tend to take this to an extreme degree. Also, the media is of no help, as the murdering psychopath is more ‘news-worthy’ than say the thinking, scholarly psychopath.

Basically a psychopath thinks outside the box, as it were. For him, the box does not exist, or if it does, it is one of his own making. Everyone could therefore be considered to be psychopaths at one time or another, because no one could live forever in the narrowly defined limits of society's box. We would stagnate as a society, in vacuum, with no fresh ideas.

So, a psychopath is a psychopath, not crazy. We need, as a society, to disconnect the two words. An insane person has no concrete view of the world, or their place within it. Their views can shift at a whim, being affected by numerous factors. Psychopaths, on the other hand, tend to have an extremely highly ordered view of their place in society. They may believe themselves the supreme intelligence, but they can justify this with a whole plethora of reasons. An insane person would take it as a given - ‘It should be clear to others why the insane person is the supreme intelligence.’

So, we've acknowledged that psychopaths are not crazy, to the next point...

So, why are children psychopaths? The answer is a matter of logic. Psychopaths are defined as people without morals or conscience. It is my belief that children are the same. Basically, when a child is born, they are wet clay. Not yet changed (tainted if you will) by the rules and restrictions of society. They are not instilled with the many societal taboos on actions that adults are.

A small test scenario:

While this is a simplistic example, it does illustrate my basic belief. Further postulations are likely to follow the same route. Without a social guide, a person will revert to a more naturalistic existence. Without civilization, all we have to go on is the ego, superego, and the id. How can such a person not lash out? They have been injured, and the need to protect one's self is a naturally occurring phenomenon.

This may bring to the question, self-sacrifice. I believe it is a moot question. Would a psychopath give his life for his loving mother? Would a child? I don't believe so. They are entirely too selfish. This may sound bad, however you must strip away the designs of society on language. Selfish is often thought to have a negative connotation. It shouldn't. The self is all-important. Why do you live life if not for self?

Hopefully this has been an easy-to-follow discourse. The ideas are simple, but sometimes provocative or ‘outlandish’ by society's rule. Try to view them objectively, as an alien to civilization might. Once you can break free of societal thoughts, you are truly being self.