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This book focuses on one of the world's major problems - violence and psychopathy. It presents some of the key contributions made at the Fourth International Meeting on the Biology and Sociology of Violence held in November 1999. A key thrust of this book, and a stance shared by all of its contributors, is the notion that violence and psychopathy simply cannot be understood solely in terms of social and environmental forces and influences. Nor do biological factors offer an exclusive explanation. Instead, it is likely that psychopathy is the result of complex interactions between biological and social factors, interactions which to date are poorly understood. Contributors to this book tackle the difficult process of isolating the important biological, psychological, and social processes that contribute to violence.
List of contents
I Psychopaths.- I Psychopaths and Their Nature: Some Implications for Understanding Human Predatory Violence.- II Psychopathy, Violence and Brain Imaging.- III Emotional Processes in Psychopathy.- IV Neurobiology of the Psychopath.- II Serial Killers.- V Concept and History of the Serial Killer.- VI Motives of the Serial Killer.- VII Psychopathy, Sadism and Serial Killing.- III Psychosocial Aspects and Treatment.- VIII Psychosocial Contributions to Psychopathy and Violence.- IX Is Effective Treatment of Psychopathy Possible? What We Know and What We Need to Know.
Summary
Adrian Raine Department of Psychology. University of Southern California. USA Jose Sanmartin Queen Sojia Center for the Study of Violence. Valencia. Spain The problems that psychopathic and violent offenders create for society are not restricted to North America. Instead, these offenders create havoc throughout the world, including Europe. In recognition of this fact, Queen Sophia of Spain has promoted a Center for the Study of Violence which recognizes both biological and social contributions to the cause of violence. In November 1999, the Queen Sofia Center for the Study of Violence held its IV International Meeting on the Biology and Sociology of Violence. This fourth Meeting, which was under the Honorary Presidency of H. M. The Queen of Spain, examined the biological, psychological and social aspects of the psychopath, the violent offender, and the serial killer. This book presents some of the key contributions made at that conference and which were first published in Spanish in 2000 by Ariel Press. A key thrust of this book, and a stance shared by all of its contributors, is the notion that violence and psychopathy simply cannot be understood solely, or even fundamentally, in terms of social and environmental forces and influences. Nor do biological factors offer an exclusive explanation.
