Vicky age 37
New Member
I have concerns about my 12 year old stepson. He was assessed by a psychiatrist aged 10 as due to lack of empathy his primary school suspected possible autism. During his session when asked to draw a picture, he drew Freddy Kruger and wrote the nursery rhyme from the same film. Unfortunately, his mother has allowed him access to films of this nature from a young age. He is not autistic, however some concerning personality traits remain.
He has an 11 year old brother who he taunts relentlessly, and often slyly. He lies easily to avoid punishment, or just to get his own way. When I confront him on this, he shows no embarrassment or guilt. I have a 3 year old son with his father, and although I have never seen him cruel to my son, he plays with him in such a way that brings out negative behaviour from my son for the whole time he is here. He can enter a room and get a rise out of everyone somehow. He is very difficult to like or be around. Since my son is now old enough to play and talk a lot more, I have seen him encouraging my son to hit a 5 year old boy and and make him cry, goading my son who knows no better, and upsetting the 5 year old who knows better than to hit back. He found this amusing. He also encourages my son to 'get' his 11 yr old brother. I now will not let him be with my 3 yr old unless I am there as I have concerns.
He is getting in trouble at school, but has no regard for punishment, and has just walked out of his detention without any regard for the teacher sitting there. He is bored easily, and has no other interest apart from computer games, usually violent ones. He lacks respect for adults, and is at ease speaking to adults and is usually cheeky to the point of overstepping the mark. A lot of this could be due to his upbringing, however the 11yr old child is polar opposite, understands boundaries, and shows signs of empathy, remorse, guilt and embarrassment.
Unfortunately, I feel a lot of his personality traits are inherited from his mother. She is a compulsive liar, sometime bordering on the ridiculous, can't hold down a relationship, has anger issues, and is never at fault for anything. She is one of life's victims, that thinks it is appropriate to tell her children she might have breast cancer, even though she was yet to have tests and there was nothing wrong with her when she did.
I have done a lot of online research on sociopathic personalities, and feel this explains so many of the issues we have experienced with both him and his mother. My husband does not want to think about psychiatric evaluation, even though his high school have recommended this, and I am concerned he is burying his head when I have grave concerns. How do I broach this subject when it is not my son, and I am in no position to diagnose him on an albeit very strong feeling I have.
He has an 11 year old brother who he taunts relentlessly, and often slyly. He lies easily to avoid punishment, or just to get his own way. When I confront him on this, he shows no embarrassment or guilt. I have a 3 year old son with his father, and although I have never seen him cruel to my son, he plays with him in such a way that brings out negative behaviour from my son for the whole time he is here. He can enter a room and get a rise out of everyone somehow. He is very difficult to like or be around. Since my son is now old enough to play and talk a lot more, I have seen him encouraging my son to hit a 5 year old boy and and make him cry, goading my son who knows no better, and upsetting the 5 year old who knows better than to hit back. He found this amusing. He also encourages my son to 'get' his 11 yr old brother. I now will not let him be with my 3 yr old unless I am there as I have concerns.
He is getting in trouble at school, but has no regard for punishment, and has just walked out of his detention without any regard for the teacher sitting there. He is bored easily, and has no other interest apart from computer games, usually violent ones. He lacks respect for adults, and is at ease speaking to adults and is usually cheeky to the point of overstepping the mark. A lot of this could be due to his upbringing, however the 11yr old child is polar opposite, understands boundaries, and shows signs of empathy, remorse, guilt and embarrassment.
Unfortunately, I feel a lot of his personality traits are inherited from his mother. She is a compulsive liar, sometime bordering on the ridiculous, can't hold down a relationship, has anger issues, and is never at fault for anything. She is one of life's victims, that thinks it is appropriate to tell her children she might have breast cancer, even though she was yet to have tests and there was nothing wrong with her when she did.
I have done a lot of online research on sociopathic personalities, and feel this explains so many of the issues we have experienced with both him and his mother. My husband does not want to think about psychiatric evaluation, even though his high school have recommended this, and I am concerned he is burying his head when I have grave concerns. How do I broach this subject when it is not my son, and I am in no position to diagnose him on an albeit very strong feeling I have.