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.
http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=9780275991944Review:
"This excellent book is of great value to professionals in the area of criminal justice and to the general public--to anyone who wants to understand criminal behavior that often seems both shocking and difficult to comprehend. Dr. Samenow shows readers the keys to criminal behavior; he takes what seems unexplainable and makes it clear!" - D. Quinn Mills, Professor, Harvard Business School
Review:
"This well-written book is a page turner that should be read by law enforcement personnel, criminal attorneys, judges, and corrections officials. The book is also a must-read for criminologists and students aspiring to work in the field of criminology. The reader will gain fresh insights into criminal behavior from a seasoned psychologist who has spent countless hours interviewing every type of criminal imaginable from shoplifters to child molesters to spree killers." - Terry Leap, Author of Dishonest Dollars: The Dynamics of White-Collar Crime