Well, I think I'm kind of the exception here. I do believe that how children are parented is hugely significant in how they develop psychologically. It's also true that many children are able to turn out okay despite not very good parenting, but some, for whatever reason (inborn sensitivities, etc.) are more profoundly affected than others. I don't think that people are born sociopaths or psychopaths, I think they become that way because of interactions between their genetic make up and how they are parented. Just my opinion, but based on a lot of reading.
I feel sorry for Casey because she is not capable of feeling the emotions that I think are the best parts of life: love for others. She may have faked being a "good mother" well enough to fool her peers, but she didn't love Caylee. For me, the love I feel for my children (and now grandchildren) has been incredibly profound and enriching. She didn't love her boyfriends - even while she was working on moving in with Tony she was screwing around with other men and keeping some back-up guys in place. And she obviously didn't love her parents. Think how sad your life would be if you didn't love the people you love. She probably doesn't know what she's missing, but I think there is a deep emptiness inside her.
I believe that inability to love and care for others came from the way she was parented. You don't have to be abusive to raise a child who is unable to attach to others. People here talk a lot about Casey being spoiled, but I actually suspect that her life started out rather differently. We can see how controlling Cindy is, and how willing she is to lie. I think Casey's early childhood (the time of life when personality is shaped) was one of strict control, and I think Casey learned that she was only loved or wanted when she was doing exactly what Cindy wanted her to. I also suspect she saw Cindy lying and was lied to by Cindy and realized she could not trust her. That kind of experience can make a child shut down from attaching to anyone, because it is too painful.
I think it was only when Casey got older and Cindy saw the threat of the "perfect-family" image being shattered that they began to cover up her stories and avoid confrontation. This happens a lot when little kids have been over-controlled; once they get into their teen years and parents can't control them anymore the way they once did, the roles almost reverse.
So yes, I feel sorry for her. I don't believe she was born this way, and I don't think she chose to be the kind of person she is. I don't think any of us do - some of us are able to overcome difficult childhoods but some are crushed by them. And having said all that, I think it is a terrible and appalling thing that she did to Caylee; I believe she is guilty of murder.
I feel sorry for Casey because she is not capable of feeling the emotions that I think are the best parts of life: love for others. She may have faked being a "good mother" well enough to fool her peers, but she didn't love Caylee. For me, the love I feel for my children (and now grandchildren) has been incredibly profound and enriching. She didn't love her boyfriends - even while she was working on moving in with Tony she was screwing around with other men and keeping some back-up guys in place. And she obviously didn't love her parents. Think how sad your life would be if you didn't love the people you love. She probably doesn't know what she's missing, but I think there is a deep emptiness inside her.
I believe that inability to love and care for others came from the way she was parented. You don't have to be abusive to raise a child who is unable to attach to others. People here talk a lot about Casey being spoiled, but I actually suspect that her life started out rather differently. We can see how controlling Cindy is, and how willing she is to lie. I think Casey's early childhood (the time of life when personality is shaped) was one of strict control, and I think Casey learned that she was only loved or wanted when she was doing exactly what Cindy wanted her to. I also suspect she saw Cindy lying and was lied to by Cindy and realized she could not trust her. That kind of experience can make a child shut down from attaching to anyone, because it is too painful.
I think it was only when Casey got older and Cindy saw the threat of the "perfect-family" image being shattered that they began to cover up her stories and avoid confrontation. This happens a lot when little kids have been over-controlled; once they get into their teen years and parents can't control them anymore the way they once did, the roles almost reverse.
So yes, I feel sorry for her. I don't believe she was born this way, and I don't think she chose to be the kind of person she is. I don't think any of us do - some of us are able to overcome difficult childhoods but some are crushed by them. And having said all that, I think it is a terrible and appalling thing that she did to Caylee; I believe she is guilty of murder.
