Forensic Psychiatry. Influences of Evil
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Author(s): T. Mason (Ed.)
Publisher: Humana Press
ISBN: 1588294498
Format: hardback
387pp
Price: $99.50
Review Date: 10 April 2006
Review: One aim of this book is to challenge the notion that psychiatry as a ‘science’, and ‘evil’ as either divine or secular, are mutually exclusive constructions. Another aim is to open up the debate on forensic psychiatry and its incorporation of the extremes of aberrant behaviour in relation to its social function. The relationship between forensic psychiatry and evil is dealt with here from various diverse disciplinary perspectives; the rationale being that both forensic psychiatry and the notion of evil are part of our developing society, and we should not be afraid to embrace these divergent viewpoints in our quest for understanding. There are chapters on: Organizations as evil structures; the archaeology of the psychopath; Madness, badness and evil; Destruction as a constructive choice; Violence as secular evil; Treatment of violent offenders; Close encounters with sexual offenders and other dangerous individuals; The vilification of victimized children; A clinical perspective of evil; What psychiatry and psychology have to say about evil; Should radical evil be forgiven?; The influence of evil on forensic clinical practice; and Hope in the face of evil.