Overview

From time to time, into the news burst accounts of regular people who commit crimes that seem totally out of character according to those who know them well. Lee Malvo, one of the D.C. snipers, was known to his friends and family as a smart, promising man. Steven, was a talented, young scientist with no criminal record. No one suspected he was capable of injuring another-until he was arrested for abducting a man, handcuffing him, and threatening to blow off his head with a pistol. What makes these otherwise stable and respected men and women commit crimes? Why do those who know them best not see the signs? Are there clues people can look out for when a person is about to snap? What in the psychological makeup of defendants resulted in their committing crimes? Here, a seasoned forensic psychologist delves into the psyches of these otherwise normal people, whom he has treated and researched for many years. With first-hand experience interviewing and treating such offenders, Samenow is able to offer numerous case examples of everyday people committing extraordinary crimes. He reveals the significant clues that help to unmask these criminals and the seemingly mundane aspects of their daily lives. The way a person handles money, consumption of alcohol, sexual history, marital conflicts, job history and performance, interests and hobbies, reading preferences, ambitions and goals, and reactions to frustrations all contribute to the factors leading up to the criminal act. By probing into these and other aspects of the offenders' lives, the author finds a context for the crimes they commit. He concludes that the out of character crime does not exist, that the crime is merely the outer manifestation of what lies beneath the surface. By taking readers through the steps necessary to understand these criminals, the author shows how we can all read the signs before it is too late. He uses real life examples in every chapter to illustrate his points and readers will come away with a better understanding of how these criminals operate.

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9780275991944

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Reviews

This book is the latest of Dr. Samenow's classics on the subject of the criminal personality. It will provide any reader with realistic insight into the dynamics of the deviant thinking that produces criminal behavior. It will be of interest and has educational value for the layperson, friends and family of criminals and victims, corrections professionals, and mental health professionals. Having been a trial lawyer for eight years and a trial court judge for 32 years, I have come to value Dr. Samenow's several books for the depth of insight and realism provided. I have seen no case, and have heard of none, that does not provide additional support for Dr. Samenow's inspired discernment into the workings of criminal personalities. -Bryan T. Hodges, Senior Judge State of Oregon

Author Information

Stanton E. Samenow is a forensic psychologist and the author of Inside the Criminal Mind, Straight Talk about Criminals, The Criminal Personality: A Profile for Change, The Criminal Personality: The Change Process, and The Criminal Personality: The Drug User, a three volume set with Samuel Yochelson as senior author, in addition to Before It's Too Late: Why Some Kids Get into Trouble and What Parents Can Do About It.

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