Most people are repelled and intrigued by the images of cold-blooded, conscienceless murders that increasingly populate our movies, television programmes and newspaper headlines. With their flagrant criminal violation of society's rules, serial killers like Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy are among the most dramatic examples of the psychopath. Individuals with this personality disorder are fully aware of the consequences of their actions and know the difference between right and wrong, yet they are terrifyingly self-centred, remorseless and unable to care about the feelings of others. Perhaps most frightening, they often seem completely normal to unsuspecting targets - and they do not always ply their trade by killing. Presenting a portrait of these dangerous men and women based on 25 years of scientific research, the author describes a world of con artists, hustlers, rapists and other predators who charm, lie and manipulate their way through life. Are psychopaths mad, or simply bad? How can they be recognized? And how can we protect ourselves? This book provides information and insights for those seeking to understand this devastating condition.
Most people are repelled and intrigued by the images of cold-blooded, conscienceless murders that increasingly populate our movies, television programmes and newspaper headlines. With their flagrant criminal violation of society's rules, serial killers like Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy are among the most dramatic examples of the psychopath. Individuals with this personality disorder are fully aware of the consequences of their actions and know the difference between right and wrong, yet they are terrifyingly self-centred, remorseless and unable to care about the feelings of others. Perhaps most frightening, they often seem completely normal to unsuspecting targets - and they do not always ply their trade by killing. Presenting a portrait of these dangerous men and women based on 25 years of scientific research, the author describes a world of con artists, hustlers, rapists and other predators who charm, lie and manipulate their way through life. Are psychopaths mad, or simply bad? How can they be recognized? And how can we protect ourselves? This book provides information and insights for those seeking to understand this devastating condition.
Introduction
1. Experiencing the Psychopath
2. Focusing the Picture
3. The Profile: Feelings and Relationships
4. The Profile: Lifestyle
5. Internal Controls: The Missing Piece
6. Crime: The Logical Choice
7. White-Collar Psychopaths
8. Words from an Overcoat Pocket
9. Flies in the Web
10. The Roots of the Problem
11. The Ethics of Labeling
12. Can Anything Be Done?
13. A Survival Guide
Epilogue
Robert D. Hare, PhD, considered one of the world’s foremost experts on psychopathy, is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Dr. Hare is the developer of one of the most widely used tools for assessing psychopathy and the author of over 100 scientific articles and several books. He has received numerous awards for his distinguished contributions to psychology and criminology.
A brilliant, in-depth handling of a most complex subject. --Hugh
Aynesworth, author of Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer
Fascinating, chilling, and accurate....The world's most renowned
psychopathy researcher has leavened sharp scientific insights with
page-turning case descriptions in a rare publishing feat: a book
that is both highly readable and highly reputable. --John Monahan,
PhD
- A fascinating, if terrifying, look at psychopaths....Hare makes a
strong case for the view that psychopaths are born, not made....A
chilling, eye-opening reportand a call to action. --Kirkus Reviews,
1/10/1999
A brilliant, in-depth handling of a most complex subject. --Hugh
Aynesworth, author of Ted Bundy: Conversations with a
Killer
Fascinating, chilling, and accurate....The world's most renowned
psychopathy researcher has leavened sharp scientific insights with
page-turning case descriptions in a rare publishing feat: a book
that is both highly readable and highly reputable. --John Monahan,
PhD
- A fascinating, if terrifying, look at psychopaths....Hare makes a
strong case for the view that psychopaths are born, not made....A
chilling, eye-opening reportand a call to action. --Kirkus Reviews,
1/10/1999
The word psychopath conjures up visions of the horrific deeds of Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer for most people. But not all murderers are psychopaths and not all psychopaths are murderers. Psychopathy is a complex personality disorder whose most prevalent characteristic is lack of remorse and whose cause and cure are still unknown. Unlike Hare's previous writings, geared to professional clinicians and researchers, this title attempts to clarify psychopathy for the general public. Hare is a recognized expert in the field of psychopathy, and whereas the content here is good and the explanations accessible to lay readers, the presentation is choppy and repetitious. Owing to interest in the more famous psychopaths, this book will probably be popular in public libraries. Although it is by no means scholarly, academic libraries may consider it because of the author's expertise. Another book to consider is Herve Cleckley's classic, The Mask of Insanity (Cleckley, 1988).-- Jennifer Amador, Central State Hosp. Medical Lib., Petersburg, Va.
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