I’m really struggling with my seven year old DS’s behaviour and not sure how to tackle it. He’s never voluntarily apologised for anything, and really lacks any empathy to others. He’s also violent to others when he reacts. For example yesterday I accidentally hurt his wrist and he smacked my back! I was shocked and stopped what we were doing to have a serious chat with him that hitting is never ok but he just wouldn’t get past the ‘but you hurt me first’! In the end I had to make him sit in the other room to calm down but he just doesn’t seem to grasp what he did was wrong and I don’t know how to get through to him. He’s popular at school and is very good academically so no issues there. I have tried to chat to school in the past but they don’t see any issues (he’s very shy around other adults so I can imagine teachers wouldn’t see this side of him). He shows no empathy when his brother is hurt or sad. Me and DH are are in no way violent with each other or our DC so I just don’t know where this has come from! Any advice please in how to install some empathy into him?