Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among UsMost people are both repelled and intrigued by the images of cold-blooded, conscienceless murderers that increasingly populate our movies, television programs, and newspaper headlines. With their flagrant criminal violation of society's rules, serial killers like Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy are among the most dramatic examples of the psychopath. Individuals with this personality disorder are fully aware of the consequences of their actions and know the difference between right and wrong, yet they are terrifyingly self-centered, remorseless, and unable to care about the feelings of others. Perhaps most frightening, they often seem completely normal to unsuspecting targets--and they do not always ply their trade by killing. Presenting a compelling portrait of these dangerous men and women based on 25 years of distinguished scientific research, Dr. Robert D. Hare vividly describes a world of con artists, hustlers, rapists, and other predators who charm, lie, and manipulate their way through life. Are psychopaths mad, or simply bad? How can they be recognized? And how can we protect ourselves? This book provides solid information and surprising insights for anyone seeking to understand this devastating condition. |
Contents
1 | |
8 | |
Chapter 2 Focusing the Picture | 21 |
Feelings and Relationships | 33 |
Lifestyle | 57 |
The Missing Piece | 71 |
The Logical Choice | 83 |
Chapter 7 WhiteCollar Psychopaths | 102 |
Chapter 9 Flies in the Web | 144 |
Chapter 10 The Roots of the Problem | 155 |
Chapter 11 The Ethics of Labeling | 180 |
Chapter 12 Can Anything Be Done? | 192 |
Chapter 13 A Survival Guide | 207 |
Epilogue | 219 |
Chapter Notes | 221 |
Author Biography | 237 |
Other editions - View all
Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us Robert D. Hare Limited preview - 1999 |
Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us Robert D. Hare Limited preview - 1999 |
Common terms and phrases
able abuse adult antisocial appeared asked associated become behavior believe brain chapter child clinical committed considered convicted convincing course court crime criminal deal death described develop diagnosis difficult disorder early effect emotional evidence example experience eyes fact feel friends give groups hand important individuals inmate interest interview killed killer lack later lives look manipulative means mental murder never offenders parents parole patients personality police prison problem professional psychiatric psychiatrist psychological psychologist psychopaths Psychopathy Checklist question reasons recent replied response result rules seemed sense sentence serial sexual simply social society someone subjects tell things thought told treatment turned understand usually victims violence wife woman women York young