Base Instincts: What Makes Killers Kill?Neurologist Dr. Jonathan Pincus personally examined and probed into the family and medical history of numerous serial killers and other violent criminals to analyze what creates and triggers the violent instinct. He discovered that virtually all suffered severe abuse as children, as well as brain damage and mental illness. In these gripping, terrifying stories, Pincus concludes that violent criminal behavior is the catastrophic product of a dysfunctional brain coupled with an abusive environment. Focusing on these critical factors, how can we prevent the development of potentially violent persons from a young age before the damage becomes irrevocable? And how do we evaluate chances of rehabilitation? "[A] rigorous, troubling, and profoundly humane book."-Leon Wieseltier, The New Republic "An urgent wake-up call for the nation...a must-read for every professional engaged in the administration of criminal justice."-Samuel Dash, Georgetown University Law Center |
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User Review - Alezanne - LibraryThingExcellent book supporting the theory of neurosurgeon Jonathan Pincus as to why people kill. He meets with murderers in prisons around the country, and recounts the most horrifying stories of childhood ... Read full review
Contents
Acknowledgments | 7 |
Prologue | 9 |
The Theory of Violence as Taught by Louis Culpepper | 15 |
Murder on the School Bus | 20 |
Murder by Abuse | 35 |
Genes Geography and the Generation of Violence | 56 |
Wrath Repression and ReleaseThe Effects of Frontal Lobotomy | 70 |
Immaturity Mania Mistreatment and Miscreancy | 87 |
Nature Nurture and Neurology | 117 |
Anatomy of Evil | 128 |
Did You Ever Hear a Baby Cry? | 157 |
Hitler and Hatred | 178 |
Prevention and Treatment | 194 |
Tools of Diagnosis History Physical Examination and the Role of Tests | 211 |
Notes | 227 |
Toxins and Turmoil | 104 |
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Common terms and phrases
able abnormal acts Adolf Hitler alcohol asked attention beat become behavior blood Bobby brain damage called carried cause changes child abuse childhood crime criminal Cynthia death deficits depression described directed disorder Donovan early effect evidence examination experiences face factors father feel feet felt fight frontal lobes function genetic hands happened head impulses indicated individuals injury Journal killed killers later Lewis look mania mental illness Miss GRIFFITH mother motor murder neurological never normal once paranoid parents patients perform period personality physical police prevent prison problems PROSECUTOR psychiatric punishment questions rates records remember reported response result seemed serial severe sexual sexual abuse side social studies suggested symptoms tests things thought tion told treatment Trent victims violence wanted