oceanblueeyes
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I agree with you (and so does research, fwiw).
My own personal theory is that it takes a combination of circumstances: genetic, environment and timing. Change or prevent just one of those factors from coming into play and the conscience develops in a normal way.
I don't think there is a single gene for a predisposition to violence but I do think there are genes that affect risk taking, ability to use logic, speed of emotional development, sociability, etc. Some percentage of people inherit a combination of many genes and modifier genes that could make them more prone to violence.
Environment matters, there's no doubt about that. While there are always exceptions, they are exceptions. For example, someone who is easily overwhelmed and needs help with every little thing that happens to them may have been raised by helicopter parents. Not every child of helicopter parents is easily overwhelmed but enough of them are that a trend can be seen.
Timing also matters. There are developmental windows and once that window closes, it is very difficult for the person to attain that particular skill. For an example of a physical developmental window, children who are born with juvenile cataract(s) have a developmental window of 32 weeks (I think, I can't remember for sure) before they lose the ability to see. Even if the cataract(s) are removed after that age, the brain has already used the wiring that would have been used to process optical input from that eye for other purposes. It is known that there are developmental windows for psychological characteristics as well. There is some evidence that trauma is more damaging during some periods of development than at other periods of development.
My theory is that a child born with a genetic predisposition towards risk taking, impulsiveness and low levels of innate cautiousness (among other factors) who are traumatised during certain specific developmental periods are the ones who grow up without a conscience.
So I think the reason why lack of conscience is extremely rare while child abuse is (unfortunately) not equally rare is because very few children are exposed to all the factors that go into lack of conscience.
That is very interesting and does make sense.
Its like a perfect storm where all factors have to come together to form.
Thank you.