Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us

Mad or Bad -- Still no final answers

Excellent review of research and various models of psychopathy, both past and present. Extensive discussion of terminology and definitions, which is very important, since 99% of the time the term "psychopath" is used the wrong way, and likewise a large percentage of psychopaths are never described that way, either through poor (or lack of) diagnosis or through misunderstanding or hesitation (including on the part of professionals). Especially chilling -- descriptions of child psychopaths. This is something that begins much earlier than people think, which makes it even more mysterious. Then we get into questions of good vs. evil. Psychopaths are not "crazy" in the usual sense; in fact they may be quite resourceful and productive -- "highly functioning" in fact. But there is something missing -- a conscience, empathy, caring, concern... and so the question becomes, are they crazy in a different way, or just plain bad, i.e. evil? Or are they more like a different species -- an alien life form? Did they at some point make a conscious decision to be, or become, the way they are? (The strong implication is no.) So they are, in a sense, seriously damaged human beings who don't know that they are damaged, and think other people are, basically, chumps and deserving victims. Then the question becomes, how to avoid getting tangled up with and victimized by them -- and many useful suggestions and observations are offered. But it's also acknowledged that psychopaths can have a mesmerizing effect on others, especially on people with low ego strength and self esteem -- so they are most likely to become victims. There is also discussion, in general terms, of the cost to society of having these individuals in our midst -- a cost that could be reduced, but seems unavoidable. The bottom line on psychopaths seems to be that they are like mad dogs -- it may not be their "fault" that they're the way they are, but they have to be dealt with somehow, and denial and avoidance of the issue on the part of society just aggravates the problem.

In reading this I could not help but think of numerous encounters I've had over the years with people who appeared to be psychopaths or who certainly had psychopathic tendencies. And as the author points out, they can be highly amusing, entertaining, fascinating, and so on. There is something strangely attractive in their ability to remain unmoved by normal human concerns -- a kind of strange aloofness or perfection. But after the encounter you wind up feeling somewhat used, as if you've lost something. But the psychopath just goes on his (or her) merry way, without a care in the world. Sound familiar? I think we've all run into people like this -- or read about them in the paper, or seen them on TV. And they really are just about everywhere, in all walks of life, which is even scarier.

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

THE landmark work on those without conscience!

This book is definitely the place to start in your study of psychopathy. Many other works give further examples of what this author has outlined, but his work is by far the best. His book is cited EVERYWHERE this topic is mentioned, and for good reason--it's the classic. It's sad but true, but all the "normal" people in the world need to understand the psychopaths, in order to avoid falling prey to them.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Survivor's Guide

If you are the well-to-do parents of a daughter of marriageable age you will be smart, in fact, wise to read this book as there could be a Trust Bandit waiting in the wings who will sue to collapse trusts, commit extortion by threatening that you will never see your daughter again as well as turn her into a puppet who may remain under mind control for the rest of her life. This book may be the most important that you may ever come across. There is help for those whose daughters have cut off their families, former friends, other relatives and former advisors. They are parents who have encountered some of these painful experiences. Dr. Hare and his colleagues are wonderful and caring people who may know of or refer you to survivors and sympathetic counselors..One cannot say that about the psychopath who is completely lacking in empathy and who look upon people as objects only.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Fantastic

This is a brilliant and readable book that explains and describes pyschopaths. Psychiatrists have described Bill Clinton as a psychopath, so just on that score everyone should read this book to understand his behavior. And if not for that, since at least 1 out of 100 people are psychopaths, the odds are you'll run into one someday. This can be a guide to how to deal with them.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Very informative, I've seen it referred to in court by lawyers, law enforcement and scholars in the field of study.

A short conscise read for an accurate and compelling insight into the minds of the mentally inept criminals that walk amoungst us daily. Truly a definitive guide to the soul of the broken and destructive.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good book

I found this book very helpful. It gives full profiles of different psychopaths. I also found it easy to read and understand. If you find your life being turned upside down by someone this could be the reason. Even if you have the pleasure of not having a relationship with one this could save you tons of trouble.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A must read for everyone!

Excellent book on the nature of the psychopath. Very easy to read and understand; I just wish I had read it before one turned my life upside down.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Alarmingly Enjoyable

While trying to learn about controlling parents who use children as pawns and lie and hurt people without remorse, I stumbled across this book. It is unbelievably educational. While I refuse to use it as a diagnosing tool 'since I am a lay person' I have shared the book and highlighted many pertinent facts that might actually help a family in need. The saddest fact that it reiterates is that psychopaths/sociopaths seem to be incurable and no treatment exists for the adults or their innocent child'ren' victims. This is a MUST read if you just want to understand the mind of a person who is so cleverishly disquised as somewhat of a kind person but has the cloak and daggar of a reprehensible one in their soul. I think all family doctors, lawyers and judges NEED to read this book so maybe they can recognize these types of people and suggest pschological testing before it affects the well-being of the children. Too many parents are getting away with creating horror in the lives of others IN FRONT of their OWN children, thus being and unconscionable role-model.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

It is wonderful to be able to read a book such as this! I think it should be required reading for every highschool senior. People like Ted Bundy and Wayne Gacy are, unfortunately, every where. By reading this book one can become more knowledgable, and more safe. I resent the fact that someone said Bill Clint was a sociopath!! (George W. Bush has alot of the charactistics!)...she should keep her opinions to herself!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

You might just be dating a pyschopath

The book is excellent. Very well written. I'm not much of a reader, but I would actually fall asleep at night reading this book. Hare goes into great description of the world of a pyscopath and provides great examples. If you have children dating / marriage age - definetly read this!!! It's scarey to think you have been involved with one.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Absolutely fabulous

This book is not only amazingly well written and impossible to put down, but it handles the subject of psychopathy beautifully. Hare's extensive research and knowledge on the subject makes for a fantastic read and I would suggest it to anyone interested in the subject.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Extremely lucid, expertly written!

I have read books left and right by former FBI profilers such as John Douglas, Robert Ressler, Roy Hazelwood, Russ Vorpagel and others in an attempt to understand the psychopath. Nothing brings it home like this book! It proves that being a psychopath and being a serial criminal are not necessarily one and the same although the seeds are there. The very words of the individuals interviewed in this book are very telling. I would highly recommend this to anyone wishing to understand the psychopath. It practically concludes that the human psyche is extremely predictable at the level of these disturbed beings. The good in people comes in all forms. But the warped mind can be pathetically too predictable! That's why I'd tremble if I had an FBI profiler on my tail! He'd know more about me than I did! Much the same way Andrei Chikatilo reacted to his interviewer in Citizen X.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

darby doo

im eating a baked potato... and its delicous. but anyway this is a great book

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

If you've read The Psychopath Test and want to know more

I found my way to this seminal work on psychopathy through Jon Ronson's book The Psychopath Test. In many ways, by the time I read Without Conscience, I felt like I had already read it before since it was quoted extensively in Ronson's work. But Ronson is a journalist and Hare is the scientist. This is the source material. It's a relief in some ways to know that, having survived encounters with people who seemingly fall into the category of the "high functioning" or non-criminal psychopath, you're not the crazy one and there is an explanation for this pattern of behavior. Of course, the research has advanced since this book was originally published in 1993, and Ronson's work picks up the thread and moves it forward from there. But if you want to understand the literature and the science behind the latest bestseller, this is the place to start.

Spot On

Having been married to a psychopath that destroyed nearly everything in my life, this book was essential in my path to recovery. It helped me to understand why this man did the things he did, that there wasn't anything in my response to him that likely would have changed anything, and that the man that ruined every aspect of my life was not all that uncommon. Robert Hare is a leader in this field, and that is why I chose his book to begin with. I have since read many others on this topic, but I continually return to this book for reference. I highly recommend this book.

Eye opening

A little repetitive but very interesting. It will make you think twice about those you thought you knew.

Without Conscience

A thought provoking book on the study of individuals without conscience. Eye opening with accounts from case studies.

Insightful

It was a little repetitive and self-congratulatory, but there were also some very insightful points.

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