I think there's a major factor that we're maybe not considering here. A consistent percentage of the population is made up by psycho/sociopaths - something like 1 or 2 percent. A minority of these people are true, biological psychopaths, who actually have different 'brain chemistry' and process decisions differently than you and I. They don't respond to punishment, they don't show remorse (because they don't really feel it), they don't see why you shouldn't do something immoral, etc. It has nothing to do with parenting - it's a genetic defect. Some of these kids may turn out to be psychopaths.
If we're talking about sociopaths, than parenting might be a factor. But, I doubt that the suggestions people have raised, like a lack of discipline, are the problem. It's probably more likely a case of consistent abuse/neglect combined with the kids' predisposition to anti-social behaviour. Recipe for success.
As our population increases, the number of people who fit into these categories probably increases as well.
Maybe "lack of discipline" - if that is the case - will cause or is causing other problems in our society, but I personally doubt this is one of them.
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