Robert Simon's Bad Men Do What Good Men Dream: A Forensic Psychiatrist Illuminates the Darker Side of Human Behavior is that rare title that is both essential reading for the mental health professional and accessible in style and content to the fascinated lay reader. In twelve powerful and provocative chapters, the author introduces readers to a psychological perspective on evil, character and destiny, as well as the making of good men and women. Simon also illuminates the psychology of psychopaths, serial killers, rapists and all manner of evil characters who appall and challenge us by their very existence. He rejects the common belief that his subjects are "monsters" with nothing in common with the more "normal" among us. Simon posits that if we deny our dark side, it can only obscure our understanding of violent offenders and impede our ability to both know ourselves and control our own, at times, unacceptable impulses. The author is among the foremost experts in forensic psychiatry. He is Director of the Program in Psychiatry and Law at Georgetown University School of Medicine. Author or co-author of more than two dozen books and editions, including the foundational Textbook of Forensic Psychiatry, Simon has made important contributions to the field of forensic psychiatry for more than 30 years. He is also an eloquent writer with a dramatic, yet nuanced, narrative style that takes the reader inside the mind of the evildoer. The first edition of this groundbreaking work garnered uniformly superlative reviews and was translated into several languages. This updated version retains Simon's engrossing portrayals and keen insight, while offering a number of key enhancements. The highlights include: Explorations of the Internet and violence, "corporate" psychopaths, cyberstalkers, perpetrators of school violence, and a new cast of serial killers, terrorists, and other evildoers. A psychological perspective on evil, serial killers, and us. Updates on the neuroscience and genetics of deviant behaviors. Reflections on empathy, character, and destiny: the making of good men and women. A new foreword by Thomas G. Gutheil, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Co-Founder, Program in Psychiatry and the Law at Harvard Medical School, that illuminates Simon's thesis and grounds it in historical context. Graphic but never sensational, unsparing but never cold, Simon's writing transcends the theoretical and achieves that most difficult of aims: leading readers to discover, contain, and transform the darkness within us all, to the betterment of our human condition.
"Bad Men Do What Good Men Dream: A Forensic Psychiatrist Illuminates the Darker Side of Human Behavior" provides insights into the minds of rapists, stalkers, serial killers, psychopaths, professional exploiters, and other individuals whose behavior both frightens and fascinates us. The book also works to break down the false separation between "good" and "bad" people-pointing out that this dark side is an essential component of our humanity. "Bad Men Do What Good Men Dream" cracks open the door to the dark side and gives readers a look inside. Sometimes frightening, always fascinating, this book will captivate readers from beginning to end.
Robert Simon's Bad Men Do What Good Men Dream: A Forensic Psychiatrist Illuminates the Darker Side of Human Behavior is that rare title that is both essential reading for te mental health professional and provocative chapters, the author introduces readers to a psychological perspective on evil, character and destiny, as well as the making of good men and women.
Whether called black sheep, sociopaths, con men, or misfits, some men break all the rules. They shirk everyday responsibilities, abuse drugs and alcohol, take up criminal careers , and lash out at family members. In the worst cases, they commit rape, murder, and other acts of extreme violence. What makes these men behave as if they had no conscience? Bad Boys, Bad Men examines antisocial personality disorder or ASP, the mysterious mental condition that underlies this lifelong penchant for bad behavior. Psychiatrist and researcher Donald W. Black, MD, draws on case studies, scientific data, and current events to explore antisocial behavior and to chart the history, nature, and treatment of a misunderstood disorder that affects up to seven million Americans. Citing new evidence from genetics and neuroscience, Black argues that this condition is tied to biological causes and that some people are simply born bad. Bad Boys, Bad Men introduces us to people like Ernie, the quintessential juvenile delinquent who had an incestuous relationship with his mother and descended into crime and alcoholism; and John Wayne Gacy, the notorious serial killer whose lifelong pattern of misbehavior escalated to the rape and murder of more than 30 young men and boys. These compelling cases read like medical detective stories as Black tries to separate the lies these men tell from the facts of their lives. For this Revised and Updated edition, Dr. Black includes new research findings, including the most recent work on the genetic and biological determinants of antisocial personality disorder, and he also discusses the difference between, and overlap with, psychopathy. Several new cases have been added to Bad Boys, Bad Men, including Mike Tyson and Saddam Hussein, and he also briefly discusses antisocial women such as Aileen Wuornos, the lead character in the movie, Monster. Acclaim for the first edition: "For a fascinating and insightful journey inside the criminal mind one could not find a better guide than Dr. Donald Black, one of the world's leading authorities on the classification of aberrant behaviors…. A magnificent achievement." --Jeffrey M. Schwartz, M.D., author of Brain Lock "Clearly written, informative, and filled with intriguing stories of real people....Tells us what we need to know about antisocial personality disorder. A wonderful book." --John M. Oldham, MD, Columbia University "A clear and thorough account of the current scientific understanding of a baffling condition, Bad Boys, Bad Men will appeal to those interested in the origins of repetitive criminal behavior. The book will be of especial use to the families of the antisocial." --Peter D. Kramer, author of Listening to Prozac "A tour de force. Don Black has distilled decades of his clinical experience and a comprehensive review of research on antisocial personality disorder into the definitive vade mecum on the topic." --John H. Greist, M.D., Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin Medical School
When a former soldier and recluse murders two 17-year-old students at a posh Edinburgh boarding school, Inspector John Rebus immediately suspects there is more to the case than meets the eye.
Rebecca Biron breaks new ground in this study of masculinity, violence, and the strategic construction of collective political identities in twentieth-century Latin American fiction. By engaging current sociological, psychoanalytic, and feminist theories, Murder and Masculinity analyzes the cliche of proving virility through violence against women. Biron develops her argument through close readings of five works: Jorge Luis Borges's "La intrusa," Armonia Somer's "El despojo," Clarice Lispector's A Maca no Escuro, Manuel Puig's The Buenos Aires Affair, and Reinaldo Arenas's El Asalto. Although men murdering women is often interpreted as nothing more than machista misogyny, Biron argues that the five narratives addressed in this book show that healed masculinities are essential to the achievement of cultural identity and political autonomy in Latin America. The introduction to this study deftly situates Biron's work in relation to previous theoretical arguments on the social and political dimensions of Latin American writing. The five subsequent chapters offer superb analyses of the individual texts. Like their male protagonists who experiment with the psychological and legal extremes of gender division, these narratives risk nonconformity to the laws of genre in their quest for liberation from violent social and literary conventions. In combining elements of detective stories, crime narratives, psychological case studies, and magical or grotesque realism, they offer metafictional commentary on a network of discourses that confuses images of masculinity, national identity, and political autonomy in postcolonial Latin America.
For those working in prolonged clinical contact with offenders, the nurse-patient relationship can be emotionally intense and sometimes difficult to express. This book attempts to understand and articulate the emotional labour of forensic nursing and explores the challenge of establishing and maintaining therapeutic relationships with offenders.
Although serial offenders have been a recognized problem in society for centuries, only recently have the complexities of these individuals come to light. Serial Offenders: Current Thought, Recent Findings presents current and inclusive information on serial offending in a clear and straightforward manner. Citing numerous case examples, this book will provide forensic psychologists and psychologists, as well as criminologists, social workers and corrections officials with relevant and informative data. Author Louis B. Schlesinger presents current thinking on serial offenders in the first of three parts contained in the text. In Part I, he covers serial homicide, child molestation, rape, arson, and the nonviolent serial offender, while offering new information and perspectives on these traditional problems. Part II reverses thought, and takes a look at recent clinical and research findings. From profiling by law-enforcement and health-care workers to the neurobiological approach to understanding why people continually commit these crimes, Part II delves beyond right and wrong to illuminate and identify the many shades of gray. Part III focuses on the unusual aspects of serial offending and on special populations of offenders. From infantophilia to serial offending by females, adolescents and members of the clergy, Schlesinger provides insight into a world that few have witnessed in such a comprehensive manner.
Click ′Additional Materials′ for downloadable samples "As a good encyclopedia does, the Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime brings together articles that offer diverse insights into the topic, while at the same time giving the reader a feel for its overall scope." --AGAINST THE GRAIN "This carefully researched and excellently presented compendium will be a welcome addition to all libraries." --REFERENCE & USER SERVICES QUARTERLY Murder and violent crime take many forms. Who are the perpetrators? What do they have in common and how are they different? The Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime presents the latest research, insightful commentary, and "true crime" case studies to help in the understanding and deterrence of one of society′s gravest problems. Although there is no easy or single answer to the question of why people kill or commit violent crimes, this important new reference work provides a wealth of information to create a background for cogent analysis. Written for a Wide Audience The Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime is intended for a wide audience including school, public, and university libraries. It will also prove invaluable to those who report violent crime′s unfolding stories, such as mass media news outlets, television and radio stations, editorial offices of magazines, and newspapers. Criminal justice professionals will also find it valuable and fascinating balance of academic research and "true crime" material they can relate to in their own experience. Edited by the World′s Leading Authority on Multiple Homicide Offenders Eric W. Hickey, Ph.D., enjoys a worldwide reputation for his work with serial killers, sex crimes, workplace violence, stalking, and the Unabomber case. A professor of criminal psychology at California State University, Fresno and adjunct professor for Fresno City College and the California School of Professional Psychology, Dr. Hickey has published and lectured extensively on the etiology of violence and serial crime. His book Serial Murderers and Their Victims, 2 nd Edition is used as a primary text in colleges and universities and by law enforcement in the study of the nature of violence, criminal personalities and victim-offender relationships. Hickey′s research is widely quoted and often is the subject of interviews in the media including National Public Radio, BBC, The Discovery and Learning Channels, Larry King Live, 20/20, and Court TV. He recently developed a cyber-stalking training course for the National District Attorney′s Association and the American Prosecutor′s Research Institute. His latest research, a study of 220 victims of stalking, examines the psychology and classification of stalkers, victim-offender relationships, intervention and deterrence strategies for potential offenders, and modes of victim assistance. Contributions From Over 100 Experts in the Field The Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime contains 200 entries covering long-documented classifications such as Serial Killers and Organized Crime to cutting edge topics of Cyber-Stalking, Kids Who Kill, and Terrorism. Leading educators, psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, and criminal justice professionals share their experience and insights on everything from Aggression and Antisocial Personality Disorder to the infamous Zodiac Murders. A Unique Compilation The Encyclopedia of Murder and Violent Crime explores the topic in great detail, looking at a multitude of issues from all angles--academic and professional research, theoretical background, and actual case studies. This combined approach provides a well-rounded overview with both theory and its historical evidence. Key Features: Edited by one of the highest profile experts in the field or murder and violent crime Over 600 pages and 50 photographs Handy, easy-to-use Reader′s Guide Comprehensive bibliographies for every article Appendix of key criminological theorists More than 100 contributors in the fields of criminology, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, and anthropology More than 200 comprehensive entries, from the types of murder and violent crime and infamous perpetrators to motivation, profiling, deterrence, investigation, and punishment Concise case studies of serial murderers, infamous crimes, and their investigations Essays on criminal terms and pathologies Brief definitions of relevant legal and criminological terms boxed and included with major entries Examines a Broad Range of Issues: Air Rage Assassins and Professional Killers Batterers Child Killers Columbine School Shooting Community Attitudes Toward Violent Offenders Corporate Violence The Criminally Insane The Death Penalty including the experience of Death Row DNA Profiling Domestic Violence Elder Abuse Ethnic Cleansing, Genocide & the Holocaust Euthanasia and Medical Murders Forensic Science and Crime Scene Investigation Gun Control Hate Crimes How Courts Handle Murder and Violent Crime Manson Family Mass Murderers Motives for Murder Murder Suicide Pedophilia Poisoners Sex Crimes Stalking Street and Prison Gangs Terrorists Workplace Violence Plus a Detailed Look at: Serial and Team Killers: Beltway Snipers Boston Strangler, Albert DeSalvo Ted Bundy Comfort Zone Killers Dana Gray Green River Killings Hog Trail Killings Jack Gilbert Graham Jack The Ripper Jeffrey Dahmer Johann Otto Hoch ( Bluebeard) Karla Holmulka & Paul Bernardo Killer Clown, John Wayne Gacy Martha Beck and Ray Fernandez Russian Ripper, Andrei Chikatilo Son of Sam, David Berkowitz U.S. and International Organized Crime: Al Capone Charles Arthur (Pretty Boy) Floyd Frank Costello Gambino Crime Family Genovese Crime Family Giovanni Falcone Jimmy Hoffa Terrorism: Osama Bin Laden Timothy McVeigh Special Reference Section on Definitions in Homicide: Attempted Murder Criminal Homicide Criminal Intent Culpabilities Defenses Felony Murder Rule Motivations for Perceptions of Rates Thanatology Types of Recommended Libraries: Academic, school, public, and university, coporate, special/private libraries, and reference libraries for criminal justice agencies and the news media.
