Sociopathic/ Personality issues.

[Ch00bz_mom]

Can you tell if a child is sociopathic before the age of five? Or it perhaps is a personality disorder- Or just bad parenting?

I am a mother of a near five year old, but it isn't him who I have concerns about. I have a nephew who is a month younger than my son, My nephew, as I had began to notice at the age of two has had some [ to me ] very troubling issues. He was  about two when his younger brother was born. My most prominent memory of this was driving home with my s,i.l. to my mothers home when the newborn babies persistant crying made us pull over. When we did, we found that my older nephew had(the one I have concerns about) had scratched the newborn so severly that he was bleeding from his nose and mouth (Due to lacerations from my older nephew scratching him).

Let us fast forward it another year, If my nephew was denied anything, a simple toy, or because he had done something he shouldn't, he would begin to shake in anger, as he has done since he was 8 months old and denied what he wanted.. After the initial anger, and shaking, usually screaming was involved, he would hit his mother, repetively. (as he still does, because she doesn't to anything or react to this behavior, and others, including myself.) or anything, child, car, or violently throwing toys at others.

I will exclude other actions before this year, because this year is most clear in my mind. He is now four and a half years old, cusses like a sailor, tantrums until he gets what he wants, even if it means hurting other people. For example, My son was sitting in my nephews wagon, which the nephew was not playing in, because he was riding his brand new bike(Another example, I suppose is the fact that although my older nephew picked out his bike, he stole his near three year old brothers bikes, and refused to let him ride it). As soon as he saw his cousin (my son) sitting in the wagon, being towed my another kid, he went ballistic, hitting, scratching, and hair pulling, and cussing.

My son came home to me bleeding, and looking like a tiger had attacked him, because I naivelly thought my S.I.L would watch out for him..

I honestly don't know if it is a disorder, or just terrible parenting.

[91004]

That is exactly what I was thinking RockRose, someone is using this language for him to know it. Whether it is all on tv or from someone in the home.

[RockRose]

Who is he mimicking when he's screaming and "cussing like a sailor"?  Who is modeling this behavior for him?   This is one concrete behavior,  out of all of his behaviors,  that you can be completely sure he didn't create on his own - 4 year olds have to hear screaming cuss words to know them.

[91004]

It sounds to me like the child lacks disipline and guidance. If the mother would acknowledge the child he more than likely wouldn't have these behaviors. If a child hits their parent and their is no reaction from the parent of course the child will still do it. I don't think it is a disorder, the mother needs to disipline the child and teach the child right from wrong.

[jdtm]

I'm not sure about this but I think bi-polar tends to show itself early in a child's life (our neighbour noticed issues at five years of age).  Is there any history of mental illness on either side of the family?  From what I've read, some of the children diagnosed with ODD at a young age actually were demonstrating the early behaviours of bi-polar.  I hope I did not upset you but you might get more information on the "ask a doctor" expert child behavior forum.  I wish you the best ...

[margypops]

I think you hit the nail on the head regarding the parenting here it would be good for the parents to get some help to deal with the behavior, if you are able to and its always sensitive, tell the childs Mom she could speak to the Doctor and follow through with some counselling. When new Babies are born very often there are a lot of jealousy issues when the older child sees the new baby gettig a lot of attention he used to get, sometimes parents forget to give the same and extra attention to the older child. You sound as if you have thoughts about the parenting here so follow through with that feelingI am sure you are now aware not to leave him with them unless there is adequate supervision, how doe the child do at school ,is he as disruptive there ?.