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There is little to be gained from considering the energy sources of human behavior from the point of view of one or two instincts. Biologically, the human organism may be characterized as possessing certain basic needs and a given set of inherited potentialities for growth and learning. While these may differ in degree from person to person and appear at somewhat different times in the life cycle, yet the needs of hunger, sex, and protection or dependency during relatively helpless periods of life, are common to all human beings.
Clinical experience with children who predominantly show behavior which is a problem to others, and concurrent therapeutic efforts with the parent, leave the impression that the genesis of some of the human characteristics included in the definition of psychopathic personality is no greater mystery than other syndromes in psychopathology. As a rule the more important parent, usually the mother, has been seen to encourage the amoral or antisocial behavior of the child unconsciously. The neurotic needs of the parent whether of excessively dominating, dependent or erotic character are vicariously gratified by the behavior of the child, or in relation to the child.