Why do human beings commit grotesque acts of violence such as paedophilia and murder? How should we treat the perpetrators of these horrific atrocities? In this gripping book, Professor Brett Kahr examines the nature of criminality throughout history, exploring the ways in which we have progressed from the ancient methods of torture and the execution of offenders to a more humane and psychologically sophisticated approach. Richly steeped in compelling clinical case reports, long-forgotten archival material, and a thorough review of cutting-edge psychological research, Dangerous Lunatics offers a unique insight into the nature of the criminal mind and its potential cure.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Introduction: The man who shot his mother and father in the face
1 Torture and Execution: Ancient Remedies for Perpetrators
2 The Medicalisation of Insanity: Hereditary Taint and the Criminal Brain
3 The Freudian Challenge: Towards a Humanisation of Offenders
4 The Growth of Forensic Psychotherapy: From Punishment to Treatment
5 Paedophilia: The Sexualisation of
Trauma
6 Murder: The Castration of Safety
Conclusion: Blue-sky thinking: the future of forensic mental health
End notes
Acknowledgements
References
Index
Über den Autor
Brett Kahr is Senior Fellow at the Tavistock Institute of Medical Psychology in London and Visiting Professor of Psychoanalysis and Mental Health in the Regent’s School of Psychotherapy and Psychology at Regent’s University London. Additionally, he serves as Consultant Psychotherapist at The Balint Consultancy and as a Trustee of both the Freud Museum London and of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy. He is also a member of the Executive Board of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy. Professor Kahr has worked in the mental health profession for over forty years, during which time he has written fifteen books and has served as series editor for more than sixty additional titles. He treats both individuals and couples in private practice in Central London.