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Inside the Criminal Mind Hardcover – Abridged, January 12, 1984
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- Print length304 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherCrown
- Publication dateJanuary 12, 1984
- Dimensions5.8 x 1.12 x 8.54 inches
- ISBN-100134674995
- ISBN-13978-0812910827
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IN NEARLY A HALF-CENTURY, little has changed in terms of deeply ingrained beliefs about the causes of crime. In the classic, still often performed, 1957 musical West Side Story, Stephen Sondheim parodied what then was the current thinking about juvenile delinquency in the song "Gee, Officer Krupke." Delinquents were punks because their fathers were drunks. They were misunderstood rather than no good. They were suffering from a "social disease," and society "had played [them] a terrible trick." They needed an analyst, not a judge, because it was "just [their] neurosis" acting up. In short, their criminal behavior was regarded as symptomatic of a deep-seated psychological or sociological problem. In this chapter I shall briefly discuss this proposition. In subsequent chapters I shall examine them in greater detail and show that the prevalent thinking about crime has been and still is loaded with fundamental misconceptions resulting in devastating consequences for society.
A man abducts, rapes, and murders a little girl. We, the public, may be so revolted by the gruesomeness of the crime that we conclude only a sick person could be capable of such an act. But our personal gut reaction shows no insight into, or understanding of, what really went on in this individual's mind as he planned and executed the crime. True, what the perpetrator inflicted upon this child is not "normal" behavior. But what does "sick" really mean? A detailed and lengthy examination of the mind of a criminal will reveal that, no matter how bizarre or repugnant the crime, he is rational, calculating, and deliberate in his actions--not mentally ill.
Criminals know right from wrong. In fact, some know the laws better than their lawyers do. But they believe that whatever they want to do at any given time is right for them. Their crimes require logic and self-control.
Some crimes happen so fast and with such frequency that they appear to be compulsive. A person may steal so often that others become convinced that he is the victim of an irresistible impulse and therefore a "kleptomaniac." But a thorough mental examination would show that he is simply a habitual thief, skilled at what he does. He can case out a situation with a glance, then quickly make off with whatever he wants. A habit is not a compulsion. On any occasion, the thief can refrain from stealing if he is in imminent danger of getting caught. And if he decides to give up stealing for a while and lie low, he will succeed in doing so.
The sudden and violent crime of passion has been considered a case of temporary insanity because the perpetrator acts totally out of character. But again, appearance belies reality.
A man murders his wife in the heat of an argument. He has not murdered anyone before, and statistical trends would project that he will not murder again. It is true that the date, time, and place of the homicide were not planned. But an examination of this man would show that on several occasions he had shoved her and often wished her dead. In addition, he is a person who frequently has fantasies of evening the score violently whenever he believes that anyone has crossed him. He did not act totally out of character when he murdered his wife. He was not seized by an alien, uncontrollable impulse. In his thinking, there was precedent for such a crime. An individual with even worse problems, but with a different personality makeup, would have resolved them differently. For example, one man whose family I evaluated during a child custody dispute discovered that his wife was spending hours on the Internet involved with a man whom she met and had sex with, then announced her plan to spend the rest of her life with him. Although her husband was emotionally devastated and irate, he neither threatened nor attacked her. He proceeded through the legal system toward divorce and obtaining custody of his daughter.
If criminals are not mentally ill, aren't they nevertheless victims of poverty, divorce, racism, and a society that denies them opportunities? Since the late nineteenth century, there has been a prevalent opinion that society is more to blame for crime than the criminal. But criminality is not limited to any particular societal group, as the 3.2 million arrests during 1999 demonstrate.
Sociologists assert that the inner-city youngster responds with rage to a society that has excluded him from the mainstream and put the American dream beyond his reach. Some even contend that crime is a normal and adaptive response to growing up in the soul-searing conditions of places like Watts and the South Bronx. They observe that correctional institutions contain a disproportionately large number of inmates who are poor and from minority groups. These inmates are seen as casualties of a society that has robbed them of hope and virtually forced them into crime just so they can survive.
Suburban delinquents are also regarded as victims--of intense pressures to compete, of materialism, of parents who neglect them or push them to grow up too fast, or are overly protective. These adolescents are perceived as rebelling not only against their parents but against middle-class values, seeking meaning instead through kicks and thrills.
If it isn't grinding poverty that causes crime, then its opposite--overindulgence--is cited as the cause. As developing nations become increasingly industrialized and their citizens become prosperous, crimes that were rare burst into headlines. In a Bangkok Post article about two tragic shooting sprees, the writer conjectured that "Western-style teenage crime" was emerging in Thailand because Thai children were so indulged that they would "snap" when confronted by life's hardships. Whether a child is deprived or pampered tells us nothing about how he will turn out. Most children who grow up in poverty and most indulged children become independent, resourceful, and responsible.
What of the observation that a disproportionate number of people incarcerated for crimes are both poor and from minority groups? Does this make a commentary on those groups? Or does it prove that the criminal justice system is racist? To whatever extent inequities exist, they need to be corrected. During the past thirty-three years I have focused on individuals, not groups. While interviewing and evaluating members of various ethnic and racial groups, I have found that in nearly every case members of the offender's own family have been law-abiding. The critical factor in becoming a criminal justice statistic is not race or ethnicity; it is the character of the individual and the choices he makes. It is unwarranted and racist to assume that because a person is poor and black (or brown, red, or yellow) he is inadequate to cope responsibly with his environment and therefore can hardly help but become a criminal.
Peer pressure is seen as a critical factor in the lives of youngsters from all social classes who turn to crime. Experts point out that some subcultures reward being daring and tough, and not living by a work ethic. Kids learn about crime from one another; they are schooled in the streets and go along with the crowd in order to acquire self-esteem and a sense of belonging. The belief that crime is contagious like a disease is more than a century old.
Every social institution has been blamed for contributing to crime. Schools have been singled out as forcing into crime youngsters who don't fit the academic mold. Churches have been accused of not providing leadership to wayward youth and to the community at large. Newspapers, television, and the movies have been charged with glamorizing crime. American business and advertising have been accused of contributing to distorted values and therefore to crime.
Economic hard times have been associated with an increase in crime. But then so have good times. Financial setbacks are said to push despondent people over the edge. But then, when times are booming, it has been thought that the gap between the "haves" and "have nots" widens and the latter, out of resentment, turn to crime. Economic pressures are also seen as contributing to crime by forcing mothers to go to work, further weakening the family. Their children have less supervision and guidance than before, and are even more vulnerable to peer pressure.
Economic adversity affects us all. We may be pushed to work longer hours or to take a second job. Women who prefer to be at home may have little choice but to go to work. Families may have to make do with less and watch goals slip further out of reach, and people on fixed incomes bear a special burden. The responsible person responds to economic pressures by sacrifice and hard work. Even for him, temptation may be stronger to step outside the law as the economic squeeze grows tighter. Ultimately, however, it comes down to how each person chooses to deal with the circumstances he faces.
Sociological explanations for crime, plausible as they may seem, are simplistic. If they were correct, we'd have far more criminals than we do. Criminals come from all kinds of families and neighborhoods. Most poor people are law-abiding, and most kids from divorced parents are not delinquents. Children may bear the scars of neglect and deprivation for life, but most do not become criminals. The environment does have some effect. For instance, it can provide greater or fewer opportunities for crime to occur--greater or lesser deterrence. But people perceive and react to similar conditions of life very differently. A family may reside in a neighborhood where gangs roam the streets and where drugs are as easy to come by as cigarettes. The father may have deserted and the mother may collect welfare. Yet not all the children in that family turn to crime. In suburbia, a family may be close emotionally and well off financially, but that is not enough to keep one of the youngsters from using drugs, stealing, and destroying property. In an area where firearm...
Product details
- ASIN : 0812910826
- Publisher : Crown (January 12, 1984)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 304 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0134674995
- ISBN-13 : 978-0812910827
- Item Weight : 1.15 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.8 x 1.12 x 8.54 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #3,045,087 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #11,349 in Criminology (Books)
- #274,174 in Self-Help (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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This is one of the most insightful books that I’ve read for a long time. It presents extensive evidence-by-experience that…
—> … criminal behavior results from ‘stinking thinking.’
—> … some criminals can change and have positively changed ‘stinking thinking' by slow and arduous — but rewarding — efforts, when assisted patiently by individuals trained and qualified to help.
Having had years of extensive discussions with criminals of all sorts, this author is qualified to quite-logically link a panoply of criminal behaviors with criminals’ revealed problematic thinking behind them — most of which is extremely self-centered . Again, the author cites examples of success in modifying this ‘stinking thinking’ in criminals willing to change, resulting in LASTING change.
…VS. DETERMINISTIC HYPOTHESES
The author provides many examples of why so many untested (or unsuccessfully tested) and clearly-deterministic-minded theories common in criminology wrongly focus on and blame factors *exterior* to criminals — while neglecting the root causes embedded in the *mindsets* of these individuals.
—> Do exterior factors influence criminal thinking? Doubtless they do to some extent. We are ALL — law-abiding and criminal — influenced by genetics and by attitudes, teachings, and difficulties around us. Perhaps many who’ve chosen the criminal life have been especially so influenced.
—> However, the author provides many examples of ineffectiveness and harm stemming from misdirected-blame theories and hypotheses. He cites cases in which two individuals in the same environment differently choose their thinking and resultant behaviors. The author also discusses examples of people from excellent environments who developed criminal mindsets early in life — despite loving parents and affluence.
Teaching criminals all sorts of skills to legitimately succeed in life, WITHOUT changing the person inside, is often unsuccessful in in ending criminal behavior.
SOME BOOK-INSPIRED THOUGHTS
Might the criminal mind have in some ways ceded to evil influences — even beyond-the-brain* evil influences? Per the book, one criminal “…acted as though his emotions arose from outside himself and he had nothing to do with them.” Moreover, I’ve seen in myself — a morally-concerned, law-abiding citizen with a keen interest in ‘The Problem of Evil’ — some occasional negative thinking patterns analogous to what the author discusses. Other honest people will undoubtedly admit to such thoughts as well. What makes the difference then between…
—>…my handling — and other responsible peoples’ handling — of such thoughts?
—> …a criminal’s handling of such thoughts?
Can it be that…
—> ….the criminal mind has substantially yielded to beyond-the-brain* evil influences to think — and ultimately act — in evil ways?
—> …the majority of minds — especially minds that have been instructed in positive moral principles — are less likely to yield to such influences?
______________________________
*I refuse to limit my perspectives to reductionist, scienTISMic assumptions that our minds are exclusively physical. Why? Because of my knowledge of clearly-external-to-brain events, including a plethora of amazingly-on-target premonitions [which, as an analytical person (a scientist), I don’t accept carelessly].
None of the above, inclusive and or exclusive of either one of the purported reasons, if you read the theories and analytical presentations author Stanton E. Samenow, Ph.D., enumerates in his book titled "Inside the Criminal Mind."
According to the author, it is a misconception the person inclined to be a criminal is because of his or her parental upbringing, poverty, influential friends, mother, father, family and neighborhood. In his book, "Inside the Criminal Mind," the author states, "Criminals cause crime - not bad neighborhoods, inadequate parents, television, schools, or unemployment. Crime resides in the minds of human beings and is not caused by social conditions."
The author also discounts the theory of a psychotic mind, "...psychological theory, in its current state, is more misleading than illuminating in explaining why people become criminals. Far from being a formless lump of clay, the criminal shapes others more than they do him."
"...criminals come from a wide variety of backgrounds - from the inner city, suburbia, rural areas and small towns and from many religious, racial or ethnic groups. They may grow up in closely knit families, broken homes, or orphanages. They may be grade school dropouts or college graduates, unemployed drifters or corporate executives. In most cases, they have brothers, sisters, and next-door neighbors who grew up under similar circumstances but did not become criminals."
Thus the gestalt of "Inside the Criminal Mind," sets out to show criminals know right from wrong and the criminal is not the product of external sources. Criminal behavior is the product of the individuals' way of thinking.
The author Samenow says, "I shall expose the myths about why criminals commit crimes. I shall draw a picture for you of the personality of the criminal just as the police artist draws a picture of his face from a description. I shall describe how criminals think, how they defend their crimes to others, and how they exploit programs that are developed to help them. I shall discuss what these people are like as children for, with systematic study; it is possible to identify at least some children who are predisposed to criminality."
Looking back and thinking of the video Seung-Hui Cho made which was televised to the world, he did exactly what author Samenow illustrates in his book which was publish way before Seung-Hui Cho came into being. The criminal never takes responsibility for his acts and blames everyone and everything for his shortcomings and worse yet, for his criminal mind. Those of us who saw the video and were not aware how the criminal and his mind thinks, felt a sense of guilt and culpability for the despicable crimes he committed. However, we did not mold him to be or do what he did, but he molded us to think we were the ones responsible for his morally reprehensible and wretched act.
I strongly recommend "Inside the Criminal Mind." Everyone, parents, teachers, administrators, people at large should read it to better understand the mind of a criminal.
Reference the coming of age in the following novel:
The Kids on the Block
They do it, Samenow says, because criminals have grown up thinking differently than you and me. Criminals live in the instant now; they have almost no sense of saving for a rainy day; they lie and steal as much to prove they are smarter than everyone else as to enrich themselves. Everyone is judged by how they may be used to further the criminal's selfish wants. The human wreckage thqat they leave behind is of no concern to them, but they are skilled at feigning sorrow if they see that as shortening their incarceration.
Rehabilitation as currently practiced--say by teaching criminals new skills--only produces criminals with new skills. It does absolutely nothing to change the underlying pathology. What is necessary is a strict form of psychotherapy in which the felons feet are held to the fire. They must be forced to recognize the crippling psychological shortcomings of everything they do. Daily meetings are held in which every act is recorded and analyzed, and no excuse whatever is tolerated. Criminals are masters at blaming everything and everybody for their predicament--except themselves. When all their excused are stripped away, and held up to them as obvious misdirection, then, slowly, can many prisoners begin to see how they must act if they wish to become clean.
This approach is refreshing, yet depressing for its complexity. But Samenow has made it work in over 30 years of practice with any enviable record of genuine, permanent rehabilitation. Bleeding hearts will hate the emotionless protocol, and reject that any approach other than the completely ineffective emotional empathy. Critics believe, the "Christian" approach of blaming harsh society, rotten environment, abusive parents, uncaring teachers is the answer, and if we could only solve all of these problems, crime would disappear. Odd then how many people suffering under they very same disadvantages still manage to stay out of prison.
The only pulled punch is Samenow's refusal to discuss how people become criminals when typical criminal traits are visible in children as young 4 years old. Are they born evil? One senses that Samenow knows the answer but refuses to say.
The book's good parts:
-The author has clearly interviewed thousands.of inmates and convicts, and is intimately familiar with their backgrounds.
-The book's last two chapters are the "so what?" of this book, and could be skipped to for the moral of the story.
-I did find numerous sentences to highlight for possible research/white papers for my academic studies in criminal justice.
The book's bad parts:
-The author often uses anonymous sources for much of his subject matter. Hard to really believe the author's thesis when using incomplete sources.
-There is only minimal discussion on major criminals' psychology. Would've enjoyed the book much more if it emphasized psychology studies on well-known criminals and their backgrounds.
-The book lags, was tedious to read, and used outdated scenarios and source names clearly not updated since its original publishing.
The author is extremely pessimistic and eludes to the fact that criminals can and never will be changed. Every chapter had the same tired, cliche points.
I probably would not read any other books by this PhD author, and give this book 2.5-3 stars.
Just as we all make choices throughout our lives and justify to ourselves why we made those choices, criminals do the same. Samenow takes us through the criminals' minds, explaining what drives criminals to make harmful decisions while at the same time believing those decisions make sense. Basically, Samenow explains how they justify their thoughts and actions.
This book is a "lighter" read than some of Samenow's other books. While there is extensive information in "The Criminal Personality," this book presents the same principles. Additionally, the 2014 revision allowed the author to present his thoughts among current backgrounds. For those who wish to find out how the criminal mind thinks, this is a good starting point.
I learned much about myself after reading this book, and my wife is currently reading it as I write this review.
If you have a loved one who is behind bars, or one that you believe is headed there, I think that this book will give you much insight as to what makes them tick, what drives them, and what they see when they view the world. I believe this should somehow be required reading for every parent who has a child behind bars, as well as anyone who's significant other is behind bars. Stop blaming yourself.
Stan Dokmanus, CCJP, CSAC, Certified Practitioner NLP, B.A. Psychology














