This book was interesting in an encyclopedic kind of way. It dealt with about a dozen different unbalanced killers who exploded on the public. The author seems to feel that society should take steps to cage these types up or alter their behavior early in their lives. While I don't disagree, the suggestions and ideas do not seem practical. How we can be protected from sociopaths and how to determine who has this type personality isn't really explained. I did like the fact-based way each story was spun out. I liked less the pontificating about causes. Overall the book was quite interesting.
Good book. Graphic, shocking but very interesting.
Joel Norris, psychologist, was a leading figure in studying the psychological, social and biological underpinnings of violent behavior, notably serial killers. He also attempted to educate the public, prison officials and law enforcement bodies of the need for early intervention in holding and apprehending violent offenders. Seemingly, even psychology practitioners are offenders at failing to recognize the dangers of a psychopathic personality. Constantly, in his research, he found it apparent that psychopaths' families, and close associates are willingly blind to the potential of these demented men and women, and tragedies result without hinder. Public institutions have poor records many times and release violent criminals into the general population. This book is a reasoning analysis of where we are and how much farther we must go to prevent these horrors in society. It is a horrific read but important to us all to become more knowledgeable in protecting our families and society from similar virulent and dangerous people and their often long-standing violence. He describes and disturbingly notes the "lack of intervention" in these case histories.
A psychological study of mass murderers
