Book Review: Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us
By Bailey Salimes
Robert Hare begins Without Conscience (1993) using a thorough, yet often unspoken, discussion of the psychopathic mind. His “Author’s Note” provides an excellent description of what the reader will encounter as they dive into his research findings, experiences, and case studies. The scientific portions are written well enough to enlighten behavioral scientists, but the topic is presented in such a way that the general public will also compile their own understanding of “the psychopaths among us,” as Hare describes in his title. Hare is a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, Canada. He is one of the most notable doctors in the study of psychopathy because of his research, tools for assessing psychopathy, and his guidance for students who are pursuing studies in criminology and related fields. Countless interviews, newspaper articles, and police reports cited throughout Without Conscience allow Hare to integrate his research with the purpose of this book: describing the behavior and mind of the common psychopath, and presenting a new potential treatment program.
Beginning with the identity of a psychopath, Hare describes the commonality of the term “psychopath” and how the world views someone who displays “psychopathic behavior.” Many people hear the word “psychopath” and imagine serial killers like Ted Bundy or John Wayne Gacy. What people do not think of, at least not immediately, when the term “psychopath” is used are “my husband” or “my boss.” Rarely will someone know enough about the true definition of the word “psychopath” to recognize that they may know someone who is a psychopath, or that they may even be related to one. Hare acknowledges that yes, many serial killers have been considered psychopaths, but the more frequently encountered psychopath is the boss telling you what to do at work, the investment manager who is secretly robbing you of your money, or the friend who seems to lack empathy for anyone (p. 2).
Throughout the book, Hare describes a variety of situations where people living normal lives encountered a psychopath. Psychopaths ranged from people in romantic relationships to serial killers, and everything in between (p. 15, 47, 66, 71, 127). He also covers several research projects attempting treatment, rehabilitation, and re-socialization of people who have been diagnosed as psychopaths. Ultimately, Hare’s goal in Without Conscience is to expose the known information about psychopaths, and explain why it is important we study the mystery behind the psychopathic mind. His book aims to educate the general public on psychopaths, and make suggestions for scientists as to how to address and implicate prevention strategies for psychopathic behavior (as well as how to correctly identify a true “psychopath”). The entire book gives plenty of examples of psychopaths, and the consequences of their actions, but the book also adds sociological and psychological theory to address how psychopaths come to be and how the criminal justice system must focus on how to help psychopaths properly interact with society. As Hare says in his epilogue, “We have to learn how to socialize them, not resocialize them” (p. 220).
The central argument of Hare’s writing is that we need to come up with better ways to properly identify psychopathy in people, and have clear assessments of psychopaths in order to better understand how they go about devastating our society. Hare spends the entire first half of Without Conscience identifying personality traits, behavioral characteristics, and implicit feelings that make someone a psychopath. He believes we need better information, confirmation techniques, and research on psychopaths in general. Having reliable diagnostic information to apply to the tools we have will be key to discovering ways to help psychopaths sustain themselves in society without being a financial, emotional, and sometimes physical burden (p. 191).
Neuroscientists have been investigating the differences in higher, complex processing between the left and right cerebral hemispheres for some time; in psychopaths, the left and right hemispheres may compete with one another for language comprehension and spoken language, and this may contribute to the discrepancies in their stories and personal accounts (p. 128). Hare continues to describe clinical situations where psychopaths have been observed as less emotional due to the potential extra complex language processing that occurs in their minds (p. 129). Most people have emotional attachment to certain words, but this does not occur in the mind of a psychopath. These skills allow psychopaths to “put on a show” (p. 142) and make it much more difficult for behavioral analysts and researchers to identify someone’s psychopathy status. Later chapters go on to describe reasons behind the fascination of psychopaths, and the “distorted reality” they live in, which is outside of our realm of comprehension (p. 152).
In the first few chapters, Hare does not hold back when he describes just how harmful psychopaths are to society as a whole (from people who become adult psychopaths brutally killing small animals or a white collar psychopath who manages to accrue millions of dollars from several banks by manipulation) (p. 66, 103). He portrays the psychopath in such a way that, from the introduction of the book, the reader prepares to despise and be baffled by the actions and mindset of a psychopath. I commend Hare for starting off in a somewhat distressing manner, but I critique him in that he did not provide some immediate relief for the reader. To the scientific eye, the abrupt and disturbing start to the book was educational and gave context for the rest of the read. To the general reader (he states he aimed to catch the eye of someone purely interested in psychopaths), this may be more terrifying than informative. He certainly covered a great deal of frightening truths about psychopaths, and contributed to literature in this way.
Hare’s book accelerates and decelerates in a logical and well-prepared manner. He contributes his knowledge on the subject along with the knowledge of many of his students, articles from other doctors in related fields (psychology, neuroscience, criminology, law, etc.), and many clippings from news sources or documentaries that helped him present “the psychopaths among us” in the most articulate way possible. His sources are trustworthy and seem to assist him in conveying his points rather than contradicting them. Chapter ten, “The Roots of the Problem,” draws from many scientific sources to give the reader an overview of the psychology of nature versus nurture, genetic factors contributing to one’s behavior, and biological models for brain damage contributing to the development of one’s character (p. 166-175). It is important to acknowledge the empirical evidence behind some of the theories on psychopaths because of the skeptical history and ineffective “solutions” the correctional mental health community has contributed thus far.
Without Conscience contributes a considerable amount of knowledge to studying the mind of the psychopath. Hare presents one of the most outstanding and unique potential therapeutic techniques for “socializing” psychopaths into society, rather than “reforming” or “resocializing” them. Getting a psychopath inside their own head by making them think that socializing was their idea allows them to make the decision, but also allows them to feel as though they still have power over their own situation. They make the call to change their behavior, not the analyst, psychologist, or whoever is assisting the psychopath. Hare contributes ideas for both theory and practice as he goes through the mind of a psychopath and discusses how society must inevitably deal with psychopaths, but also how we must not give up hope that psychopaths can potentially live in society without completely destroying or damaging everything in their paths.
Robert Hare gives many excellent examples of psychopaths, ranging from the least physically destructive to the psychopaths who have physically taken countless lives. He provides an accurate and detailed account of a psychopath's thoughts, lifestyle, and how they come to manipulate the people around them through financial, relational, and needy schemes. The hope he gives near the end of the book is a small light in a long and dark tunnel, but with more research (particularly in the fields of psychology, chemistry, neuroscience, criminology, and medicine) we might discover more permanent ways to change the mindset of the psychopath. For now, Hare’s distinguished description remains: “These often charming--but always deadly--individuals have a clinical name: psychopaths” (p. 1).
About the Author
Bailey Salimes is a junior at Boston University studying Neuroscience and Psychology.
References:
Hare, Robert D. Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us (New York, NY: The Guilford Press, 1999)
Beginning with the identity of a psychopath, Hare describes the commonality of the term “psychopath” and how the world views someone who displays “psychopathic behavior.” Many people hear the word “psychopath” and imagine serial killers like Ted Bundy or John Wayne Gacy. What people do not think of, at least not immediately, when the term “psychopath” is used are “my husband” or “my boss.” Rarely will someone know enough about the true definition of the word “psychopath” to recognize that they may know someone who is a psychopath, or that they may even be related to one. Hare acknowledges that yes, many serial killers have been considered psychopaths, but the more frequently encountered psychopath is the boss telling you what to do at work, the investment manager who is secretly robbing you of your money, or the friend who seems to lack empathy for anyone (p. 2).
Throughout the book, Hare describes a variety of situations where people living normal lives encountered a psychopath. Psychopaths ranged from people in romantic relationships to serial killers, and everything in between (p. 15, 47, 66, 71, 127). He also covers several research projects attempting treatment, rehabilitation, and re-socialization of people who have been diagnosed as psychopaths. Ultimately, Hare’s goal in Without Conscience is to expose the known information about psychopaths, and explain why it is important we study the mystery behind the psychopathic mind. His book aims to educate the general public on psychopaths, and make suggestions for scientists as to how to address and implicate prevention strategies for psychopathic behavior (as well as how to correctly identify a true “psychopath”). The entire book gives plenty of examples of psychopaths, and the consequences of their actions, but the book also adds sociological and psychological theory to address how psychopaths come to be and how the criminal justice system must focus on how to help psychopaths properly interact with society. As Hare says in his epilogue, “We have to learn how to socialize them, not resocialize them” (p. 220).
The central argument of Hare’s writing is that we need to come up with better ways to properly identify psychopathy in people, and have clear assessments of psychopaths in order to better understand how they go about devastating our society. Hare spends the entire first half of Without Conscience identifying personality traits, behavioral characteristics, and implicit feelings that make someone a psychopath. He believes we need better information, confirmation techniques, and research on psychopaths in general. Having reliable diagnostic information to apply to the tools we have will be key to discovering ways to help psychopaths sustain themselves in society without being a financial, emotional, and sometimes physical burden (p. 191).
Neuroscientists have been investigating the differences in higher, complex processing between the left and right cerebral hemispheres for some time; in psychopaths, the left and right hemispheres may compete with one another for language comprehension and spoken language, and this may contribute to the discrepancies in their stories and personal accounts (p. 128). Hare continues to describe clinical situations where psychopaths have been observed as less emotional due to the potential extra complex language processing that occurs in their minds (p. 129). Most people have emotional attachment to certain words, but this does not occur in the mind of a psychopath. These skills allow psychopaths to “put on a show” (p. 142) and make it much more difficult for behavioral analysts and researchers to identify someone’s psychopathy status. Later chapters go on to describe reasons behind the fascination of psychopaths, and the “distorted reality” they live in, which is outside of our realm of comprehension (p. 152).
In the first few chapters, Hare does not hold back when he describes just how harmful psychopaths are to society as a whole (from people who become adult psychopaths brutally killing small animals or a white collar psychopath who manages to accrue millions of dollars from several banks by manipulation) (p. 66, 103). He portrays the psychopath in such a way that, from the introduction of the book, the reader prepares to despise and be baffled by the actions and mindset of a psychopath. I commend Hare for starting off in a somewhat distressing manner, but I critique him in that he did not provide some immediate relief for the reader. To the scientific eye, the abrupt and disturbing start to the book was educational and gave context for the rest of the read. To the general reader (he states he aimed to catch the eye of someone purely interested in psychopaths), this may be more terrifying than informative. He certainly covered a great deal of frightening truths about psychopaths, and contributed to literature in this way.
Hare’s book accelerates and decelerates in a logical and well-prepared manner. He contributes his knowledge on the subject along with the knowledge of many of his students, articles from other doctors in related fields (psychology, neuroscience, criminology, law, etc.), and many clippings from news sources or documentaries that helped him present “the psychopaths among us” in the most articulate way possible. His sources are trustworthy and seem to assist him in conveying his points rather than contradicting them. Chapter ten, “The Roots of the Problem,” draws from many scientific sources to give the reader an overview of the psychology of nature versus nurture, genetic factors contributing to one’s behavior, and biological models for brain damage contributing to the development of one’s character (p. 166-175). It is important to acknowledge the empirical evidence behind some of the theories on psychopaths because of the skeptical history and ineffective “solutions” the correctional mental health community has contributed thus far.
Without Conscience contributes a considerable amount of knowledge to studying the mind of the psychopath. Hare presents one of the most outstanding and unique potential therapeutic techniques for “socializing” psychopaths into society, rather than “reforming” or “resocializing” them. Getting a psychopath inside their own head by making them think that socializing was their idea allows them to make the decision, but also allows them to feel as though they still have power over their own situation. They make the call to change their behavior, not the analyst, psychologist, or whoever is assisting the psychopath. Hare contributes ideas for both theory and practice as he goes through the mind of a psychopath and discusses how society must inevitably deal with psychopaths, but also how we must not give up hope that psychopaths can potentially live in society without completely destroying or damaging everything in their paths.
Robert Hare gives many excellent examples of psychopaths, ranging from the least physically destructive to the psychopaths who have physically taken countless lives. He provides an accurate and detailed account of a psychopath's thoughts, lifestyle, and how they come to manipulate the people around them through financial, relational, and needy schemes. The hope he gives near the end of the book is a small light in a long and dark tunnel, but with more research (particularly in the fields of psychology, chemistry, neuroscience, criminology, and medicine) we might discover more permanent ways to change the mindset of the psychopath. For now, Hare’s distinguished description remains: “These often charming--but always deadly--individuals have a clinical name: psychopaths” (p. 1).
About the Author
Bailey Salimes is a junior at Boston University studying Neuroscience and Psychology.
References:
Hare, Robert D. Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us (New York, NY: The Guilford Press, 1999)
