Casey & Family Psychological Profile #1

[JohnVaughanCauthen]

Thank you. I haven't heard anything about it either. This the most important lead in the case. They shouldn't say they didn't find Caylee so the woman is lying.

The truth here is probably not that pure and sweet, but is better than what people are saying and thinking about Casey at the moment.

 

[Darshana]

Thank you. I haven't heard anything about it either. This the most important lead in the case. They shouldn't say they didn't find Caylee so the woman is lying.

The truth here is probably not that pure and sweet, but is better than what people are saying and thinking about Casey at the moment.

Well Casey has not portraid herself as the perfect Mom. Why does she lie about everything? I do not get it. If you have nothing to hide than why lie!!!???

 

[shadowraiths]

Imho, to discuss the pros and cons of "love" (conditional or otherwise) as it may (or not) apply to criminal behavior we need to operationalize the construct. In other words, what exactly do people mean when they use that term? Is it a phermone thing between consenting adults? A social contract that carries its own set of expectations? Or attachment between parent and child? Imho, the latter is the most compelling and least consciously controllable (or, for that matter, explainable) part of the puzzle. Esp in light of current research that appears to indicate a significant correlation between attachment and criminal behavior. We could, of course slice, dice, and categorize KC's behavior as we attempt to place her in nice neat little diagnostic packages. Though, unless she is legally insane, imho, DSM diagnostics won't tell us a great deal as they pertain to finding Caylee. Otoh, looking at her behavior within the bigger context of her social sphere might.

 

[ArtichokeHeart]

Yeah, I think the standards are very, very different. If I remember from law school (I don't do crim law), not guilty by reason of insanity meant the person did not understand the nature of what they were doing (such as strangling someone but thinking they are squeezing a lemon) or the person did not think what they did was wrong (such as Andrea Yates thinking that if she did not kill her kids, they would not go to heaven, so what she did was right under the eyes of God). Most mentally ill people would not fall under either category. They can be hideously mentally ill, under the table in Court with full blown psychotic hallucinations, but still guilty as sin, as long as their illness did not cause them to not understand what the nature of what they were doing or that it was wrong. It is a VERY hard defense and they have to be able to prove they were legally insane. I don't believe anyone has been deemed not guilty by reason of insanity due to a personality disroder like sociopathology (they do call it anti-social personality disorder now, instead of sociopathic), and I don't think anyone should be able to get by with that kind of defense. These types know exactly what they are doing.
Anyhow, I, like you, am also and have been very interested in the "why" of criminal behavior. It drives me nuts to not understand what creates such monsters. And I've often wondered what would happen if you put these types together on an island or in a cell. Would be interesting!

I have a long time interest in mental illness. I grew up in the era when the play "The Bad Seed" was a broadway success. Everyone was afraid of their children and "The Three Faces of Eve" made life even spookier.

But I will tell you right now there is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that mental illnes is a development caused by a relationship. Babies may be born autistic but not mentally ill.

There are many reasons for mental illness. I'm just going to speak off the cuff here. One that has concerned me is that parents often carry a vibration that is psychologically damaging to their child. I was once at an ashram and the guru told one young man that his vibration could kill his infant son. I know full well that a college professor living in my building in nyc used to hum passages of classical music and his vibration was damaging to his daughter who had to 'duck' her mind to avoid the result hence although exceedingly bright she walked around like a slow and somewhat deranged young woman while her brother went off to Harvard. There were other dynamics in the family as well as of the mother perceiving her daughter as a threat and competion for her husbands attention. I also know that an epileptic boy was having seizures because of the way his mother called his name in a very piercing wobbly high pitched voice. And I know of another man also damaging his infant causing in fact a brain turmor by his vibrational penetration. These people and there are many of them can be attractive professional people totally unaware of what they are doing (though that needs more investigation) and go to great lengths to 'help' their child.
So the public always sees the wonderful parent and the tragedy of his or her life due to a 'sick' child.

So mental illness is also adaptation for survival. There is no one mentally who does not know right from wrong or where the nearest fire exit is in case of an emergency. It is a fine line and the ones society fears are the ones who harm others.

Most young children lie at some time or other to avoid punishment. Lying is definately a problem but the real problem is 'why' she lied ...it is what is going on underneath...that is where the real emotions are. because if you do not address those needs you will never solve the problem. You will never achieve turst or intimacy.

Not punishing a person for doing wrong makes that person crazy. (see Thomas Szaz). If an person steals once and gets away with it, they will steal again, and justify it to themself and then do it again till it becomes like a disease tasking over...hence a lifestyle is formed...a terrible one for it is a sickness and the person finds themself unabe to stop it. And when they are confronted they are smothered with love and cookies, cars and c ell phones credit cards, computers and tv's and hugs and told they are a great heroic friend. i'm sorry but very few children will pull themselves out of that one and confront their mother on her lack of moral fiber! Especially a child who is totally smothered and disabled by her mother and overprotected.

A child..a person needs space and time in order to see their own self. And they also ned accountability. When I say space and time I mean 'alone time within a structured setting'.

I think Casey's lying mimics her mothers rational. I think it is creative and free flowing and gives her mother exactly what she wants to hear. Cindy wants to hear it and i don't think she wants to hear anything else. So why would her daughter NOT lie to her? it is in fact a psychological intimacy that Casey has with her mother.

I will bet that after Casey wipes out her mother's bank account Cindy after an initial rage falls to her needs so to speak for forgiveness for her attachment to money and lends her daughter more money. Isn't that what has been happening? who gives their credit card to someone you've just called a sociopath without a future and a pathological lier free access to all their money to allow them to take a vacation with a child you have raised???

Who is mentally ill here? Just because Cindy hasn't robbed a bank does not make her sane. Nor do we know that Casey killed her child. We have a freaked out irrational Nancy Grace worried there are masked men with choloform hqnkies hiding behind closed doors ready to steal her twins. She doesn't even know how she is causing fear and then frightening her own self.

I don't know if Casey is curable at this point. With her mother and the way things are going No I don't think so , not one darn bit. And as long as Cindy needs lies from her daughter, as long as she cannot accept the truth Casey will never tell it. And i think Casey needs to be behind bars and away from her mother. i think prison is a far better place for this kind of mental illness because the mental illness creedo is to exonerate people from responsibility for their thoughts. In other words..."I'm mentally ill, I can't help it...and if my mind is ill how can i possibly help myself."

If Casey actually killed her daughter then no one wants her around in this world anymore. But if it was a careless reckless accident due to not paying enough attention then I would not want her to go away for life..a sufficient amount of years up to twenty would do. That is overkill enough.

There are some conditions that parents provide which no child can escape unharmed from. It may not be intentional abuse nor obvious abuse but society ..teachers, educators, neighbors friends need to be able to recognize the signs and some system needs to be set up so that confrontation and help is allowed. Everyone has free choice and a choice for help must come from within but if there are more mirrors set up more information and stwandards put out there as to whqt is acceptable then such children as Casey who have been 'diabolical liers' all of their life won't fall through the cracks before it is too late.

Why didn't Cindy find help for her child?

She is guilty of neglect and enabling. Does she know right from wrong when she can be so right and moral one moment and an outright lier the next.

 

[ArtichokeHeart]

Given her friends independent lifestyle I would imagine Casey was very anxious to get out from under her parent's watchful and controlling eye.

First of all there are tons of college women Casey's age sleeping around with just as many men but the one's I knew or heard of years ago were damm sure they used protection and they did't depend on the man to have a condom.

And second of all there is something called an oedipal complex which usually applies to a man ...what i know about this is that the man or woman has insecurity issues and what they feelk most confident in is their sexual ability. I think that fits with Casey even though she acts so above everyone.

I don't think Casey cared whether or not she got pregnant, if she did she knew her mother would take care of the child. And I think Cindy did want that. In some sort of unconscious way cindy wqs using Casey to have children for her. She didn't want her to be married. She didn't want her out of the house either...it was the councelor she called her advised her to kick Casey out. Kind of like the empty nest syndrone.

Casey has an identity problem which is also behind her lying. The other thing behind her lying is that Cindy just rages and never hold her accountable. i also think Casey mirror her mother.and in their parasitic relationship gives her mother exactly what she wants. Cindy likes the lies.

 

[PhoneBoothBandit]

Great and insightful posts ArtichokeHeart!!

 

[debs]

First of all there are tons of college women Casey's age sleeping around with just as many men but the one's I knew or heard of years ago were damm sure they used protection and they did't depend on the man to have a condom.

And second of all there is something called an oedipal complex which usually applies to a man ...what i know about this is that the man or woman has insecurity issues and what they feelk most confident in is their sexual ability. I think that fits with Casey even though she acts so above everyone.

The female version of this is the Electra Complex.

I don't think Casey cared whether or not she got pregnant, if she did she knew her mother would take care of the child. And I think Cindy did want that. In some sort of unconscious way cindy wqs using Casey to have children for her. She didn't want her to be married. She didn't want her out of the house either...it was the councelor she called her advised her to kick Casey out. Kind of like the empty nest syndrone.

Casey's continued lying about who the father of her baby is, and Cindy's continued justification for the lies and feeling as though "this time" she's gotten the truth from Casey, speaks quite dramatically to the power the secret Casey has to devastate her mother's life, IF Casey so chooses. I am certain there was no drive for Cindy to want Casey to get pregnant; but faced with the fait accompli, she determined to take over, since she screwed up so royally with Casey, she sees this as a way to perhaps redeem herself and be a good mom....oops, grandmom. I'm sure that the years after Caylee's birth was just more of the Greek Tragedy Family Life the Anthonys have embraced for so long.

Casey has an identity problem which is also behind her lying. The other thing behind her lying is that Cindy just rages and never hold her accountable. i also think Casey mirror her mother.and in their parasitic relationship gives her mother exactly what she wants. Cindy likes the lies.

I would agree that the dynamics between these two women is parasitic. They FEED off what the other will do. I believe Casey's stealing from Cindy (the credit cards, etc) was because Casey felt Cindy OWED her. OWED her for what Casey feels she's had to endure in that house while Cindy turned a blind eye. I know I keep harping on this in every post, but the secret that everyone in that family knows, and in each their own way avoids by lying and obfuscating is the cornerstone to this case.

Everyone in this family is now working together to cover up the same absolute truth. Oddly enough, they finally came together for one purpose. Sadly now, they are beginning to unravel again. Soon, we'll see the "everyone for themselves" drama we were not privy to before they were thrust into our homes every night on Nancy Grace.

Get ready people. Someone's going to crack.

 

[Susanlee]

He went to the hospital as soon as she was born to try to prove she wasn't his child. He tried to be a father for two years because he wanted Casey, but he really wanted Caylee to go away.

Jesse has a brother who was connected with the police and with the missing children part of it.

Ultimately, I believe their purpose is to pass strict laws that allow them to take children away from parents for very slim reasons. Maybe they think they are protecting the children; so they have this goal and purpose to use cases like this as an excuse to further their aims. The authorities connected with missing children were part of the JonBenet debacle, where evidence and witnesses who didn't fit their purposes were ignored.

They might even look for cases like this to exploit. That is why my suspicion is raised when I hear that Jesse wanted to get rid of Caylee and that he had a brother who was connected with the missing children department of the police.

The brother could have talked, and people higher up heard it and realized they could make his problem go away and use this to create another national spectacle to further their aims for stricter laws over parents they consider bad parents. This case was perfect to further their purposes.

It's sort of like using 911 to take away our rights as Americans.

They could have done things like plant a decomposition odor in the car, but why couldn't they find any DNA? They can now get DNA from contact with a surface, but there was no DNA. They could plant very pure chloroform giving it an Agatha Christie flair, and hire super body guards, find the right nanny who replaced the regular nanny and then the nanny is able to completely disappear from the picture. Casey referred to the nanny in phone conversations ("I am playing phone tag with Zani") whom the authorities say doesn't exist. Was Casey so delusional that she talked about someone who didn't exist when arranging dates?

You can't call Casey that delusional, but you can say the authorities did things just like that in the JonBenet case.

Let me see if I have this right. The brother of Jesse started all this....authorities are ignoring leads....LE planted a decomposition odor in the car....LE also planted the chloroform...all of this to pass more strict laws re missing children...Maybe we should call the FBI, unless the CIA is involved in this coverup to. I think the CIA has control of the FBI....and the FBI controls local LE. Gosh, where to we go from here? I am going to go call the White House right now and ask to speak to the President. I think he really needs to know about all this coverup re the Anthony case. Geeze.

 

[yolorado]

Interesting stuff, Artichoke heart. Whenever I watch Cindy, I always think I'm seeing where where Casey came from. We all have possibilities inside us, defined somewhat by genetics, exacerbated by environment. At some point, I think environment, which over the course of her life had made KC vulnerable to some real downsides in her basic psychology, delivered the final straw within the last few years, or even months, which broke the camel's back and took her over the edge into the abyss.

 

[yolorado]

Let me see if I have this right. The brother of Jesse started all this....authorities are ignoring leads....LE planted a decomposition odor in the car....LE also planted the chloroform...all of this to pass more strict laws re missing children...Maybe we should call the FBI, unless the CIA is involved in this coverup to. I think the CIA has control of the FBI....and the FBI controls local LE. Gosh, where to we go from here? I am going to go call the White House right now and ask to speak to the President. I think he really needs to know about all this coverup re the Anthony case. Geeze.

Gotta agree. This is fantasy stuff...denial stuff...dismissing, discounting, ABSOLUTELY ignoring everything but the improbable...coming from...? I wonder.

 

[IWannaKnow]

Thanks for the welcome, One Lost Girl,and yes, it was rough. But I'm still here! :woohoo: JohnVaughnCauthen- we DO agree on SOME things. My point was supposed to be that Casey's behavior looks like a giant neon sign to me for sexual abuse. The level of secrecy needed to keep the lid on these things is enormous, on all sides. Plus, if Casey was impregnated by someone closely related to her, that is a direct FAILURE on Cindy's part to protect her, and then force her to keep the child? That is rubbing salt into the wound. Makes for some really volitile family dynamics, especially if Cindy's spouse were cheating on her with her own daughter (I'm not implying that, but it could be......stranger things have happened). And don't believe for one moment that just because Casey told her what happened, that Cindy believed it! De-nial is more than just a river in Egypt! If you need proof, go to the Brooke Bennett forum and research the family dynamics there......Denise Jacques is the poster child of denial in my book!!!!!!!!!! As well as failure to protect. And in my experience, that is the norm, not the exception. When I tried to discuss my history with my mother, her first response was "That never happened!", and when I would not give up, her next answer was "Well, bad things happen to everyone, you just have to get over it". :furious:. And that is the first and only conversation we ever had about experiences in my life that could have/would have/should have ruined my life, if I had allowed them to. I realized I never had any support from my mother and there was no reason to look for any. I got pregnant at 16, aborted the child because I was TERRIFIED of what they would do to me for getting pregnant, and the resulting infection cemented that I would never have children. My Mom still doesn't know anything about it, to this day. At 19, one month away from being wed to my first abusive spouse, she caught us fooling around and freaked out! Kicked the fiance' out and wanted to have the birds-n-bees discussion, birth control, blah.blah.blah.............I had a terrible time keeping a straight face and not telling her "I had been having sex with your brother since I was two, where was your concern then?" Enough about me. I'm just trying to say, I feel that if we could get to the bottom of the Casey/Cindy relationship, many things would be clear. Just as many others are saying. :twocents:

 

[IWannaKnow]

Also, my brother is stealing my mother blind. Always has. She lets it go because she feels guilty. For what, she will not say. I've always felt Cindy let all this slip under the radar because she was afraid to rock the boat. JMHO

 

[tiredofthis]

:laugh:

Let me see if I have this right. The brother of Jesse started all this....authorities are ignoring leads....LE planted a decomposition odor in the car....LE also planted the chloroform...all of this to pass more strict laws re missing children...Maybe we should call the FBI, unless the CIA is involved in this coverup to. I think the CIA has control of the FBI....and the FBI controls local LE. Gosh, where to we go from here? I am going to go call the White House right now and ask to speak to the President. I think he really needs to know about all this coverup re the Anthony case. Geeze.

 

[kiki the parrot]

Knot4u2No: 'Just a comment related to "unconditional love." I know many people use that term loosely, but unconditional love means that love has no meaning ... no relationship ... no purpose ... if it is really "unconditional" then it is just as well without love. Misguided love is as destructive as hate and unconditional love, in my manner of thinking, is not love at all. I know it is just a matter of semantics, but the semantics are important. Love, true love, always has the conditions of expectation and necessity that can not be violated by the one loved. The one loved can be allowed to change, but the love that is active and cares is always conditional. The prodigal son had to change his direction, not the father. Point is, true love is conditional and often difficult to appreciate or understand. Unconditional love is what? No accountability? Unconditional forgiveness ... no penalty under the law? True love is to be open to others for them to change, but it is not unconditional, unless it is misguided. True love is in the Law, and it requires the person who violates the law to first pay the penalty of the law and then be accepted. Just my opinions, of course. I have similar thoughts related to "self-esteem," which I will keep to myself.' -Russell

My prior remarks are based on my experience as the mother of four children (23, 20, 16 and 5, and a grandchild age 2), as well as observations of mine and my brothers' upbringing. I am not sure how many children you have raised, and have no idea what your upbringing or relationships were like, but it seems apparent you have a strikingly different "working definition" of love. A frame of reference that conflicts w my biblical understanding of unconditional love. In a nutshell though love itself is a choice (not an emotion); is neither withdrawn or withheld nor dependent upon the recipient of that love; and for the record while God's love is unconditional, His blessings and favor certainly are not. It isn't, as you imply here, a state of having no expectations, boundaries, or consequences--rather quite the opposite--while seeking the other's highest good, and remains constant despite choices the other person makes. The prodigal son eg strayed, disrespected, had done nothing his father expected--yet his father was willing to forgive him in order to restore the relationship. [IMO it is this "love" (misnomer) that could possibly depend upon another's performance, behavior, or reciprocity that would be meaningless and not love at all.] In the parable, the younger son made selfish, irresponsible choices yet it was the father's choice to still forgive and not withhold love despite those choices. (Btw since you brought it up, God's sacrificial love ultimately FREED us from the law that we might choose to also be compelled NOT by the LAW but by love.)

In discussion re Casey and narcissism/causes of NPD I was sharing that, beyond normal traits outgrown during childhood, pathalogical narcissism is a ruthless, maladaptive, and persistent pattern of self-obsession (aka "malignant self-love") which results, many believe, when there are extremes in childhood--ie a controlling parent who withholds love or is harsh, critical, and unaccepting of a child's mistakes or often childhood trauma; while there's also excessive pampering, over-indulgence or needing to feel a child is "special" based solely upon child's achievements is loving a child conditionally--and can have disastrous results as seen I suspect in this case. For whatever reason, Casey felt unable to admit she had lost a job, or be honest about any of her failures--w/ all the other classic signs present (envy, sense of entitlement, exploiting others, lack of empathy etc. It could easily be borderline, anti-social or even sociopathy but this was a discussion of the link between her narcissistic behaviors, and parenting. We continue to see excusing, enabling behaviors on the part of these parents eg.) There was also some discussion of societal influences which also play a role--and are also supported by my personal experiences and observations. Again, I find psychology/terms useful to the extent it doesn't conflict w biblical wisdom, my ultimate frame of reference (it's been around a bit longer, so haters go 'head and hate, but kiki's a love-r not a fighter lol)

 

[SoCalSleuth]

Is his therapist aware of the extreme behaviors he exibits? Are you completely honest with the doctors about your sons "symptoms"?

My niece was very much the same way as your 5 year old. Diagnosed as a sociopath at 10 but it was obvious from the day she could talk. They put her on Abilify (it's for schizophrenics but they used it off label) because the psychiatrist said it showed promise on another patient and we were besides ourselves with what to do with the situation. The difference is like night and day. It worked for her. Might want to look into it.

 

[kiki the parrot]

And I think before assuming it is always child sexual abuse we might as I've said want to pause and consider there are other "secrets" (affairs--widely reported--of the father) and certainly many other forms of trauma and abuse.

 

[Knot4u2no]

Knot4u2No: 'Just a comment related to "unconditional love." I know many people use that term loosely, but unconditional love means that love has no meaning ... no relationship ... no purpose ... if it is really "unconditional" then it is just as well without love. Misguided love is as destructive as hate and unconditional love, in my manner of thinking, is not love at all. I know it is just a matter of semantics, but the semantics are important. Love, true love, always has the conditions of expectation and necessity that can not be violated by the one loved. The one loved can be allowed to change, but the love that is active and cares is always conditional. The prodigal son had to change his direction, not the father. Point is, true love is conditional and often difficult to appreciate or understand. Unconditional love is what? No accountability? Unconditional forgiveness ... no penalty under the law? True love is to be open to others for them to change, but it is not unconditional, unless it is misguided. True love is in the Law, and it requires the person who violates the law to first pay the penalty of the law and then be accepted. Just my opinions, of course. I have similar thoughts related to "self-esteem," which I will keep to myself.' -Russell

My prior remarks are based on my experience as the mother of four children (23, 20, 16 and 5, and a grandchild age 2), as well as observations of mine and my brothers' upbringing. I am not sure how many children you have raised, and have no idea what your upbringing or relationships were like, but it seems apparent you have a strikingly different "working definition" of love. A frame of reference that conflicts w my biblical understanding of unconditional love. In a nutshell though love itself is a choice (not an emotion); is neither withdrawn or withheld nor dependent upon the recipient of that love; and for the record while God's love is unconditional, His blessings and favor certainly are not. It isn't, as you imply here, a state of having no expectations, boundaries, or consequences--rather quite the opposite--while seeking the other's highest good, and remains constant despite choices the other person makes. The prodigal son eg strayed, disrespected, had done nothing his father expected--yet his father was willing to forgive him in order to restore the relationship. [IMO it is this "love" (misnomer) that could possibly depend upon another's performance, behavior, or reciprocity that would be meaningless and not love at all.] In the parable, the younger son made selfish, irresponsible choices yet it was the father's choice to still forgive and not withhold love despite those choices. (Btw since you brought it up, God's sacrificial love ultimately FREED us from the law that we might choose to also be compelled NOT by the LAW but by love.)

In discussion re Casey and narcissism/causes of NPD I was sharing that, beyond normal traits outgrown during childhood, pathalogical narcissism is a ruthless, maladaptive, and persistent pattern of self-obsession (aka "malignant self-love") which results, many believe, when there are extremes in childhood--ie a controlling parent who withholds love or is harsh, critical, and unaccepting of a child's mistakes or often childhood trauma; while there's also excessive pampering, over-indulgence or needing to feel a child is "special" based solely upon child's achievements is loving a child conditionally--and can have disastrous results as seen I suspect in this case. For whatever reason, Casey felt unable to admit she had lost a job, or be honest about any of her failures--w/ all the other classic signs present (envy, sense of entitlement, exploiting others, lack of empathy etc. It could easily be borderline, anti-social or even sociopathy but this was a discussion of the link between her narcissistic behaviors, and parenting. We continue to see excusing, enabling behaviors on the part of these parents eg.) There was also some discussion of societal influences which also play a role--and are also supported by my personal experiences and observations. Again, I find psychology/terms useful to the extent it doesn't conflict w biblical wisdom, my ultimate frame of reference (it's been around a bit longer, so haters go 'head and hate, but kiki's a love-r not a fighter lol)

Even in the Bible there is no forgiveness without repentance, and forgiveness does not mean no restitution and no penalty under the law.

Regarding love and Casey, “healthy love” teaches adaptive lessons of life and living (i.e., what to do and what not to do). Such love is full of differential (i.e., selective and appropriate) reinforcement and punishment, both positive and negative – i.e., accurate and instructional warnings, reproofs, and corrections, as well as earned praise, due comfort, and progressive encouragement. On the other hand, “unconditional love” teaches not only that there is no difference between right and wrong, it gives the so-called loved one no accurate feedback related to skills or abilities and a very poor start for developing good critical thinking skills or social values, much less making appropriate value judgments (i.e., risk and opportunity management based on adaptive self-esteem). One can operationalize these concepts by defining “adaptive” as independently exercising rights and meeting corresponding responsibilities, and defining “maladaptive” as violating rights or not meeting responsibilities. Appropriate types and amounts of positive reinforcement (gain of pleasure/comfort) and negative reinforcement (decrease in pain/discomfort) would follow improved performance and adaptive efforts (e.g., praise, early recess) and would NOT follow maladaptive behaviors. To the degree necessary, negative punishment (i.e., a decrease in pleasure/comfort, generally called time-out from positive reinforcement) would follow maladaptive behavior (e.g., temporary loss of privilege), and ultimately, if necessary, positive punishment (the addition of pain/discomfort) would follow maladaptive behavior (e.g., the addition of work). Note that the first rule for healthy love is to FIRST stop all types of positive and negative reinforcement for maladaptive behavior, and then START positive and negative reinforcement for adaptive behavior. Without reinforcement (positive or negative), the behavior will not develop or exist long. Keep in mind that there are many types of “unhealthy love,” including unconditional reinforcement or punishment, misguided reinforcement or punishment, and pathological reinforcement or punishment. Unconditional love provides no structure or direction; misguided love ignorantly strengthens and weakens the wrong behaviors; and, pathological love intentionally strengthens and weakens the wrong behaviors. In any case, intentional or not, the positive or negative reinforcement of maladaptive behavior is just as destructive as the positive or negative punishment of adaptive behavior. Casey’s learning history consists of a combination of her overt/external learning environment and her covert/internal learning environment (the domain of her imagination). I think it is important to keep in mind that Casey has been actively reinforcing herself in both of these learning environments and her self-love is both unconditional and pathological, but not misguided ... she knows exactly what she has done and is doing. Just my personal opinions base on her public behavior.

Russell

 

[debs]

And I think before assuming it is always child sexual abuse we might as I've said want to pause and consider there are other "secrets" (affairs--widely reported--of the father) and certainly many other forms of trauma and abuse.

I have not read anyone on any thread suggesting it is ALWAYS child sexual abuse. People have come to their own conclusions based on either personal experience or professional/educated assumptions. In each case, all have directed the reader to it being from their own perspective.

I'm not sure what "widely reported" means, since I have only read a quote that Casey said her father was having an affair. You'll pardon me if I don't take her at her word for that, but look for a deeper meaning. If there are reports of this that I am unaware of then I look forward to you providing those links. This website is like a Hydra. People post so quickly on here it is easy to get lost.

I am again stating my educated opinion.

 

[JenninFla]

Is his therapist aware of the extreme behaviors he exibits? Are you completely honest with the doctors about your sons "symptoms"?

absolutely. he is on 4 different meds and has 6 different diagnoses. It just seems to me that her and other people Label it adhd and "behavoral problems" and I was wondering when it goes beyond him just being a kid. There are only so many things the meds can help. with his extreme "issues" I see myself living a case like this when he gets older and that scares the crap out of me, was just wondering if these could be early signs and if something like sociopathic issues can be seen this early.

 

[JenninFla]

Threatening to kill himself and people is really scary. My grandkids' have a cousin who was threatening such things and he finally got diagnosed as bipolar around age eight. Doctors don't like to diagnose that in kids though. Do you mind if I ask if he's got ADD? It seems like that is blamed for everything and is something that I am dealing with in a twelve year old who tells really big lies. I'd also really like to know what symptoms were showing in childhood with people like Casey. There had to be some.

he was dx with sever adhd, bi-polar, mild retardation disorder (which I dont believe to be true), ptsd, reactive attachment disorder, andd reactive speech disorder.