Base Instincts: What Makes Killers Kill?Neurologist Dr. Jonathan Pincus personally examined and probed into the family and medical history of numerous serial killers and other violent criminals to analyze what creates and triggers the violent instinct. He discovered that virtually all suffered severe abuse as children, as well as brain damage and mental illness. In these gripping, terrifying stories, Pincus concludes that violent criminal behavior is the catastrophic product of a dysfunctional brain coupled with an abusive environment. Focusing on these critical factors, how can we prevent the development of potentially violent persons from a young age before the damage becomes irrevocable? And how do we evaluate chances of rehabilitation? "[A] rigorous, troubling, and profoundly humane book."--Leon Wieseltier, The New Republic "An urgent wake-up call for the nation...a must-read for every professional engaged in the administration of criminal justice."--Samuel Dash, Georgetown University Law Center |
Contents
Acknowledgments | 7 |
Prologue | 9 |
The Theory of Violence as Taught by Louis Culpepper | 15 |
Murder on the School Bus | 20 |
Murder by Abuse | 35 |
Genes Geography and the Generation of Violence | 56 |
Wrath Repression and ReleaseThe Effects of Frontal Lobotomy | 70 |
Immaturity Mania Mistreatment and Miscreancy | 87 |
Nature Nurture and Neurology | 117 |
Anatomy of Evil | 128 |
Did You Ever Hear a Baby Cry? | 157 |
Hitler and Hatred | 178 |
Prevention and Treatment | 194 |
Tools of Diagnosis History Physical Examination and the Role of Tests | 211 |
Notes | 227 |
Toxins and Turmoil | 104 |
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Common terms and phrases
abnormal abused children ADHD adults African Americans aggressive alcohol antisocial personality disorder asked beat bipolar Bloehm blood Bobby Moore brain damage carbamazepine cause child abuse childhood clinical complex partial seizure criminal Culpepper Cynthia death row deficits depression diagnosis Donovan drugs dysfunction effect environment examination factors father feet felt fight frontal damage frontal lobes function genetic hands homicide hyperactive impulses indicated individuals Jack Journal killed knife Lewis mania mental illness MISS ELLIOTT MISS FORD MISS GRIFFITH Mona mother motor nerve cells neurological normal obsessive-compulsive disorder paranoid parents patients percent Phineas Gage physical police prison PROSECUTOR prostitutes psychiatric punishment rape reported result scars schizophrenia seemed seizures serial killers serial murderers serotonin sexual abuse siblings social Stanley Stanley's studies symptoms tests thought tion told Trent victims violence violent behavior violent crime wanted Whitney Zepolino