The Psychopathology of Crime - by Adrian Raine (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

This lauded bestseller, now available in paperback, takes an uncompromising look at how we define psychopathology and makes the argument that criminal behavior can and perhaps should be considered a disorder. Presenting sociological, genetic, neurochemical, brain-imaging, and psychophysiological evidence, it discusses the basis for criminal behavior and suggests, contrary to popular belief, that such behavior may be more biologically determined than previously thought.

From the Back Cover

This book has two major goals. The first goal is to familiarize readers with the rapidly growing and increasingly influential body of knowledge on the biological bases of criminal behavior. Much of this research has been ignored or minimized in more traditional books on crime, yet if we are to fully understand criminal behavior we need to be fully aware of all influences that bear on it. By the same token, it is clear that psychological and environmental factors are also critically important in the development of crime, and for this reason chapters are also given over to familial and extrafamilial influences on crime.

Review Quotes

"This is an extremely informative, thoughtful and illuminating book that should be read by every open-minded scholar who is interested in the causes of crime and antisocial behaviour...the whole book is a tour de force in its masterly reviews of the literature on biology and crime." --David P. Farrington, in PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE

"Raines book presents an exemplary summary of the available evidence on all the risk factors for criminality that have been studied along more or less scientific lines, both biological and environmental. His scholarship is impeccable; he relies throughout on experimental (or at least empirical) evidence, is able to assess its evidential and probative value, and threads his way carefully through the forest of overlapping categories--criminal and psychopathic, schizotypal personality, etc. He is careful to introduce biological terms and constructs before discussing their relation to crime, and always gives both sides of any controversy that has arisen. The book sets a standard that will be difficult to surpass.... It is clear that there must exist neurochemical, hormonal, psychophysiological, and other biological structures and functions acting as intermediaries between DNA and criminal behavior. It is in discussion of these factors, which makes up the major part of the book, that Raine shines; it is here that his expertise is most manifest.... The book can be safely recommended as an excellent summary of the known facts in this tantalizing field...The book is outstandingly successful." --H.J. EYSENCK, University of London in CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGY

"I enjoyed reading the book and learned much from it. To my knowledge there is nothing like it available. It exhaustively reviews the recent literature on the psychological and physiological characteristics of serious criminal offenders. Raine brilliantly compresses a huge, complex, unwieldy, and occasionally unclear body of data from many disciplines into a surprisingly accessible account of the traits that dispose some people to become offenders." --RICHARD J. HERRNSTEIN, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

"During my 20 years of researching and writing on criminal behavior, I have yet to find a summary on the biological foundations of crime as comprehensive, balanced, and accurate as this one. The book is truly worth having on this basis alone. Moreover, the reference list is extensive...and very up-to-date, allowing the reader to quickly identify cutting edge research in the field...Psychopathology of Crime is extremely well written in a pithy, scholarly style. The book is permeated with tables and figures that are thoughtfully laid out and add greatly to the content. It is a book that will be frequently cited in the biological approaches to criminal behavior and is a must for anyone interested in understanding the causes of crime." --Curt R. Bartol in JOURNAL OF NERVOUS AND MENTAL DISEASE

"I have yet to find a summary of the research and theory on the biological foundations of criminal behavior as comprehensive, balanced, and accurate as this one. The book is truly worth having for this reason alone, regardless of ones perspective on the controversial biology-crime issue. Moreover, the reference list is extensive and very up-to-date, allowing the reader to identify quickly cutting edge research in the biophysical approaches to crime.... It is extremely well written in a pithy, scholarly style. The book is full of tables and figures that are skillfully lad out and add significantly to the content. It is a book destined to be frequently (and favorably) cited in the literature of biological approaches to criminal behavior and a must read for anyone open to weighing all explanations." --Curt R. Bartol, Castleton State College, Vermont, in CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND BEHAVIOR: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL