James Fallon is a neuroscientist who has spent his career studying psychopaths. On accident, he learned that his brain had revealed someone who had scan patterns indicative to a psychopath. He later found out his family history had a long line of people with clear psychopathic behavior.
So what led Fallon away from becoming a diagnostic psychopath? He says a nurturing environment during childhood.
This is what my friend Bridget said about Fallon’s conclusion: “This, right here, is why I advocate “attachment”-style parenting. Where you have a genetic predisposition for antisocial behavior, a nurturing, responsive, sensitive caregiver has the potential to mediate the possible harmful effects of those genetics. It’s not so much about breastfeeding or co-sleeping or shunning strollers as it is about treating a child with empathy from the very beginning, so that they learn firsthand how to treat other people.”
You know your child better than anyone – do what you know is right for their unique needs.
