PSYCHOANALYSTS PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PSYCHIATRISTS DISCUSS PSYCHOPATHY AND HUMAN EVIL (PB 2020) Paperback

Evil – and its embodiment in the form of the psychopath – remains largely unexplored in psychological and psychoanalytic literature. In light of contemporary societal challenges, from escalating cultural violence to climate change, it is crucial to examine psychopathy and human evil with greater depth. This book brings together social scientists, psychologists, and psychoanalysts to delve into the psychology of psychopaths and the profound personal, societal, and cultural damage they leave in their wake. Key questions explored include: Who are psychopaths? How do they think and operate? What drives someone to commit psychopathic acts? And are psychopaths born or shaped by their environment? Psychopaths often shock us with behavior that defies common human trust and bonding, though not all engage in criminal acts. Their ability to deceive, manipulate, and hide in plain sight—particularly when they are intelligent and well-educated—often allows them to thrive, especially as "successful" or "corporate" psychopaths in corporate boardrooms or as leaders of political movements and nations. The book covers a broad range of topics such as slavery, genocide, the Holocaust, the individual psychopath, the mindset of a terrorist, sexual abuse, attachment theory, and the neurobiology of psychopathy. It will appeal to researchers studying human evil and psychopathy across various disciplines and is an essential read for psychotherapists and clinical psychologists.