The Psychopath
Emotion and the Brain
1. Auflage Juli 2005
216 Seiten, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
Psychopaths continue to be demonised by the media and estimates
suggest that a disturbing percentage of the population has
psychopathic tendencies. This timely and controversial new book
summarises what we already know about psychopathy and antisocial
behavior and puts forward a new case for its cause - with
far-reaching implications.
* Presents the scientific facts of psychopathy and antisocial
behavior.
* Addresses key questions, such as: What is psychopathy? Are
there psychopaths amongst us? What is wrong with psychopaths? Is
psychopathy due to nature or nurture? And can we treat
psychopaths?
* Reveals the authors' ground-breaking research into whether an
underlying abnormality in brain development leaves psychopaths with
an inability to feel emotion or fear.
* The resulting theory could lead to early diagnosis and
revolutionize the way society, the media and the state both views
and contends with the psychopaths in our midst.
Acknowledgements viii
1 What is Psychopathy? 1
2 The Background Facts 18
3 What is the Ultimate Cause of Psychopathy? 28
4 The Psychopathic Individual: The Functional Impairment 47
5 Cognitive Accounts of Psychopathy 67
6 Neural Accounts of Psychopathy 81
7 A Neurocognitive Account of Reactive Aggression 96
8 A Neurocognitive Account of Psychopathy 110
9 Conundrums and Conclusions 141
References 156
Subject index 187
Author index 196
the challenge of its subject. The book exhaustively covers
everything known about psychopathy to date. It also brings an
exciting new theory, exploring the neuro-biological underpinnings
of psychopaths' broken emotions. The Psychopath will
be an engrossing read for any clinician, scientist or student who
wants to understand that mysterious individual, the criminal
psychopath." Terrie Moffitt, Institute of Psychiatry,
London
"A gem of a contribution to the field of psychopathy, this
wonderful resource provides a highly coherent and integrative
review of developments in cognitive and affective neuroscience and
their implications for understanding the nature of psychopathy. The
authors are passionate about their research and this book presents
their personal assessment of the field in a remarkably powerful,
readable, and detailed manner. The book is an extraordinary
accomplishment and a boon for the field." Joseph Newman,
Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin
"This timely book represents an exciting new synthesis
which has taken into account emerging data on the biology of
psychopathy, including its neurocognitive basis. The authors
lucidly describe discoveries about emotional processing in
psychopaths and new thinking about its psychiatric nosology. They
have performed a notable service in providing this highly readable
survey, which summarises objectively the strengths and weaknesses
of various theoretical accounts, including their own, and the
implications for forensic, adult and child psychiatry."
Trevor Robbins, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, University
of Cambridge
"A comprehensive summary of recent research on the
cognitive, emotional, and neurological correlates to psychopathy.
One of the few resources to consider the manifestations of
psychopathy throughout the lifespan." Professor Paul J.
Frick, Director, Applied Developmental Psychology Program,
University of New Orleans
"the book as a whole contains a wealth of information and
insight that make it an excellent avenue into the current state of
knowledge and thinking about psychopathy. The authors' scholarship
is unquestionable, and they bring together an exceptional amount of
information within a manageable number of pages...The book will
provoke considerable thought from students, practitioners, and
researchers who will have to integrate their thinking on this vital
topic." David Nussbaum, PsycCRITIQUES
Derek Mitchell and Karina Blair both work on the Unit on Affective Cognitive Neuroscience in the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program of the National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program.
