Concern arises when aggression, particularly if callous and remorseless, doesn’t wane around these ages—this predicts an increased risk of adult sociopathy (aka antisocial personality).* Crucially, the behavior of future sociopaths seems impervious to negative feedback. As noted, high pain thresholds in sociopaths help explain their lack of empathy—it’s hard to feel someone else’s pain when you can’t feel your own. It also helps explain the imperviousness to negative feedback—why change your behavior if punishment doesn’t register?
