Psychopathy as Unified Theory of Crime (Palgrave's Frontiers in Criminology Theory)

This book applies the psychopathy concept toward the understanding of crime. Drawing on hundreds of studies and his own clinical, research, and practitioner experience working with the most antisocial and violent offenders, the author demonstrates that psychopathy can explain all forms of crime across the life course, and also examines the biosocial foundations of the disorder. With an abundance of case studies and historical references, written in a distinctive writing style, the book is equally fascinating to the academic scholar and the true crime buff alike. Presents the work of one of the most internationally acclaimed and highly prolific and cited criminologists in the world Bridges criminology and psychology and academic and lay conceptualizations of psychopathy Offers a fresh thesis that shows the ability of psychopathy to explain all forms of conduct problems from early childhood through late adulthood This book applies the psychopathy concept toward the understanding of crime. Drawing on hundreds of studies and his own clinical, research, and practitioner experience working with the most antisocial and violent offenders, the author demonstrates that psychopathy can explain all forms of crime across the life course, and also examines the biosocial foundations of the disorder. With an abundance of case studies and historical references, written in a distinctive writing style, the book is equally fascinating to the academic scholar. and the true crime buff alike. -- Provided by publisher Front Matter....Pages i-vii Why Psychopathy as Unified Theory of Crime?....Pages 1-13 Psychopathy, Its Etiology, and the Nature of Crime....Pages 15-60 Psychopathy, Assessment, and the Structure of Crime....Pages 61-95 Psychopathy and the Life-Course....Pages 97-131 Psychopathy and Criminal Offenders....Pages 133-170 Psychopathy and Biosocial Criminology....Pages 171-196 Psychopathy and the Criminal Justice System....Pages 197-223 Conclusion....Pages 225-236 Back Matter....Pages 237-243