Elf Sternberg

Although children develop empathy, being cruel to insects is not terribly deviant, especially as an incidental, as opposed to continual, activity. Also, children, as a form of acting out, may be mean or cruel to animals in brief incidents. I realize this isn't the case with the East boys...but I felt Velvet's brush went a bit broad...I grew up with four older brothers, and we did our fair share of killing ants, feeding other insects to spider webs, and even a bit of frog tormenting/torture. We had our fair share of family dysfunction, but none of kick the dog or torture people, and we're all pretty much warm-hearted bleeding heart liberal types.

And, I do think, that between boys developing growing levels of testosterone, and the prevalent socialization as to what 'male' behaviour should be, that yes, boys are both nature/nurture, more attuned to agressive behaviours that can be acted out in that way.

I do strongly agree with you that it is a situation that needs monitoring, and that escalation does call for some sort of response.

As I mention in my comment to the post, what I think is of grave concern is the outwardly stated aims of the boy for control and ownership, and his pleasure in seeing others feel discomfort. Those aspects, on their own, are enough for me to be concerned about him exhibiting socio-pathic behaviour.