The Psychopathic Mind: Origins, Dynamics, and Treatment [Paperback]

Reid J. Meloy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 1988

Forensic psychologist Reid Meloy identifies psychopathology as a deviant development disturbance characterized by inordinate instinctual aggression and the absence of a capacity bond. It is the definitive book on the subject.

A Jason Aronson Book

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book represents the confluence of many streams of thought and addresses the interest of the whole mental health field in a way in which few others have. (James S. Grotstein )

A compelling integration of psychobiological data on predatory aggression in humans. Dr. Meloy covers the clinical spectrum of psychopathic behavior, making the book of value to all therapists. He presents psychopathy as a distinct entity and a characterological component of a variety of other disorders. The Psychopathic Mind is the most significant contribution to psychopathy since the publication of Cleckley's Mask of Sanity in 1941. We are introduced in these pages to the thinking of Otto Kernberg and Ted Bundy. There are quotes from the Bible and the Boston Strangler. This book is required reading for anyone who wishes to understand psychopathic behavior." (Tanay, Emanuel )

This is a superb presentation of what is currently known about the psychopathic personality and its functioning. The discussion is comprehensive and clearly and forcefully articulated, making it maximally useful for clinical and forensic settings. The book would be highly useful and helpful for all clinicians engaged in the evaluation and treatment of criminal psychopaths. This extremely important work fills a vacuum in the understanding of psychopathic disorders from the psychological and psychodynamic perspective. (William W. Meissner )

About the Author

J. Reid Meloy, Ph.D., is a diplomate in forensic psychology of the American Board of Professional Psychology. Chief of the Court Services, Forensic Mental Health Division for San Diego County, he also devotes time to a private civil and criminal forensic practice, research, writing, and teaching. He is an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine; a clinical associate professor of psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego; and an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego School of Law. Additionally, he is a Fellow of the Society for Personality Assessment and was recently elected President of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology. In 1992 he received the Distinguished Contribution to Psychology as a Profession Award from the California Psychological Association.

Product Details

• Paperback: 474 pages
• Publisher: Jason Aronson, Inc.; 1 edition (September 28, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876683111
• ISBN-13: 978-0876683118
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #740,529 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not quite the Psychopathy Bible...but almost, April 24, 2000

By 

Jonathan Cook (Columbia, MO) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Psychopathic Mind: Origins, Dynamics, and Treatment (Paperback)

J. Reid Meloy's book provides a fascinating insight into the mind of the psychopath and is perhaps one of the most comprehension books on psychopathy since Hervey Cleckley's masterpiece, "The Mask of Sanity". This book is divided into four sections that discuss origins and previous theories, the psychopath's experience of emotion, the importance of aggression in the psychopathic mind, and treatment plans for psychopathy. While the first two sections on previous theories and psychopathic emotion are difficult to read because of the technical vocabulary terms, they still provide key information concerning the creation and signiture traits of a psychopathic individual. The reading becomes easier once Meloy starts to discuss certain case studies and the treatments he has used and studyied. The increased readibility does not mean that this book loses value for a clinician. On the contrary, I believe that this is a book that all individuals who are interested in understanding and identifying the psychopath, clinicians and lay persons alike, should read. Meloy's book is mainly from a forensic perspective and therefore almost all of his case studies involve criminal psychopaths. One important distinction not made clear in this book is that not all psychopaths are criminals. However, this distinction is not severely detrimental to the quality of the book, and it is still an excellent and very comprehensive source on this disturbing, yet interesting mental disorder.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most detailed book in psychopathy I've yet to read., November 15, 2010

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Kara Chilcote "KCinSD74" (San Diego, Ca.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Psychopathic Mind: Origins, Dynamics, and Treatment (Paperback)

This book is absolutely amazing. I've read it twice and both times I was unable to put it down. I've had the pleasure of meeting Dr Meloy and find him articulate, knowledgeable, and engaging. He is one of the true professionals within the forensic psych community. His work is extremely accurate and his study in child psychopathy is fascinating. I'm looking forward to all his future writings as I'm sure they will be just as interesting and informative as this one.

3 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, November 21, 2009

By 

Angela "Sunshine" (Nebraska USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Psychopathic Mind: Origins, Dynamics, and Treatment (Paperback)

This product came WELL in advance of when it was scheduled to come and was in the condition that it said it would be :)