Some further thoughts on the 'endgame' It seems to me that MLCers tend to either hit bottom and finally face their demons - classic behaviour for many addiction patterns, but as with other addicts, many simply make an accommodation with their problems, and although they may return to 'themselves' they are not healed.
Now I don't know if strikes a chord with anyone else, but I have noticed that many damaged people were severely and inappropriately punished for behaviours that were actually normal age-appropriate behaviours. However, the message they internalised was that the punishment meant that they didn't have to take responsibility for what they had done. The punishment 'atoned' for the offence. You see it in some prisoners. They consider that 'they have served their time'
As adults they found it easier to do this. It has been noted how many MLCers are in or have been in, the military. I do not think it is a coincidence, and I do not think it is being in the military that caused it. They sought out the police, fire service etc as a framework with clear rules and punishments, and were thus able to go on repeating a pattern of behaviour.
To give an simple example: if a child has a pet, then it needs to learn to feed and take care of it. In a normal family it is understood that the child will sometimes forget, and that the pet may suffer, This needs explaining, and reinforcing. Simply punishing the child for lapse will not actually encourage the child to see that it is their actions that caused unnecessary suffering. They see themselves as suffering, and have thus 'atoned' for their lapse by being punished by their parent.
