I've worked with kids from the age of 2-9 and I gotta tell you, they are not conditioned to be selfish monsters. They are selfish. They've just barely learned that they themselves exist, expecting them to have empathy is a lot. They don't learn how actions and consequences are related until very late.
in fact i think it's borderline reactionary. yeah kids are gross and selfish and shitty but who taught them to be that way?
Honestly I think it's the other view that's reactionary. Kids are taught empathy. They do mean shit to each other all the tme. They're selfish and mean. They are also so much more, but pretending like these other qualities aren't inherent, just because they're ugly... It's pure ideology.
The system we exist in then hits them with contradictions. They're taught to care for others and share their stuff and be nice and then... Welcome to the world! You just got punked, sucker! Give me all your free time!