Inside the Criminal Mind Understanding the dark side of human conduct Environment Is Criminality a Result of "the Lottery of Birth?" Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on December 31, 2021 The grim assertion that a person who grows up in dire circumstances is invariably "set on a path to prison" is untrue. The grim assertion that a person who grows up in dire circumstances is invariably "set on a path to prison" is untrue. Identity A Hitman as a "Good Person" Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on December 6, 2021 "If I thought of myself as evil, I couldn't live" -- statement by a career criminal "If I thought of myself as evil, I couldn't live" -- statement by a career criminal Law and Crime Does Frequent Fire-Setting Signify Mental Illness? Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on November 6, 2021 The arsonists experiences a sense of enormous power The arsonists experiences a sense of enormous power Adolescence Are Criminals Suggestible? Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on October 20, 2021 People do not become criminals because they are weak, vulnerable, and easily led astray. People do not become criminals because they are weak, vulnerable, and easily led astray. Sex The Development of a Sexual Predator Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on September 23, 2021 Sex offenders start committing many types of offenses early in life. Sex offenders start committing many types of offenses early in life. Law and Crime The Criminal's Sense of Uniqueness Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on August 24, 2021 Criminals think they are unique but do not realize that other criminals also see themselves in the same way Criminals think they are unique but do not realize that other criminals also see themselves in the same way Psychosis Hearing Voices and Determining Criminal Responsibility Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on August 9, 2021 A quick study will never suffice A quick study will never suffice Parental Alienation Rejecting a "Win" through Establishing "Alienation" Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on July 15, 2021 One parent could exploit the other parent's mental illness for his own self-serving agenda One parent could exploit the other parent's mental illness for his own self-serving agenda Law and Crime Recipe for a Summer of Violence Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on July 2, 2021 The ingredients are present for a summer of increased crime The ingredients are present for a summer of increased crime Parental Alienation "Weaponizing" a Child Through Parental Alienation Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on June 4, 2021 Extreme parental alienation is like a "parentectomy" in which a child loses a parent Extreme parental alienation is like a "parentectomy" in which a child loses a parent Fear Solitary Confinement Can Be Necessary Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on April 30, 2021 Separating dangerous prisoners from the general population can save lives. Separating dangerous prisoners from the general population can save lives. Alcoholism Generalizing a Point to an Absurdity: A Criminal's Tactic Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on April 7, 2021 A counselor may be taken in by this tactic of the criminal A counselor may be taken in by this tactic of the criminal Resilience "Down the Rabbit Hole": A Book by Two Inmates Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on March 12, 2021 Two prison inmates deliver a scathing critique of the corrections establishment with constructive suggestions for change. Two prison inmates deliver a scathing critique of the corrections establishment with constructive suggestions for change. Personality Does Psychotherapy Make Criminals Worse? Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on February 25, 2021 Might Tony Soprano have finally been amenable to therapy after Dr. Melfi terminated her contact with him? Might Tony Soprano have finally been amenable to therapy after Dr. Melfi terminated her contact with him? Anger Tony Soprano's "Insatiable Anger" Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on February 7, 2021 A psychiatrist who fails to treat what should be obvious. A psychiatrist who fails to treat what should be obvious. Anger Reducing Anger Through Cognitive Change Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on January 12, 2021 Correcting "errors in thinking" can prevent anger. Correcting "errors in thinking" can prevent anger. Parental Alienation A Judge's Poignant Description of Parental Alienation Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on December 17, 2020 Saving a child's relationship with both parents. Saving a child's relationship with both parents. Forensic Psychology What a Forensic Psychologist Does in a Child Custody Case Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on December 3, 2020 Custody evaluations may break legal logjams. Custody evaluations may break legal logjams. Forensic Psychology What Does a Forensic Psychologist Do in a Criminal Case? Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on November 13, 2020 TV crime dramas usually tell little about what forensic psychologists actually do. TV crime dramas usually tell little about what forensic psychologists actually do. Defense Mechanisms "I Snapped": Is This an Explanation or Rationalization? Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on October 19, 2020 Does "I snapped" really mean that a person behaved out of character? Does "I snapped" really mean that a person behaved out of character? Previous 1 2 3 Next
Environment Is Criminality a Result of "the Lottery of Birth?" Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on December 31, 2021 The grim assertion that a person who grows up in dire circumstances is invariably "set on a path to prison" is untrue. The grim assertion that a person who grows up in dire circumstances is invariably "set on a path to prison" is untrue.
Identity A Hitman as a "Good Person" Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on December 6, 2021 "If I thought of myself as evil, I couldn't live" -- statement by a career criminal "If I thought of myself as evil, I couldn't live" -- statement by a career criminal
Law and Crime Does Frequent Fire-Setting Signify Mental Illness? Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on November 6, 2021 The arsonists experiences a sense of enormous power The arsonists experiences a sense of enormous power
Adolescence Are Criminals Suggestible? Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on October 20, 2021 People do not become criminals because they are weak, vulnerable, and easily led astray. People do not become criminals because they are weak, vulnerable, and easily led astray.
Sex The Development of a Sexual Predator Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on September 23, 2021 Sex offenders start committing many types of offenses early in life. Sex offenders start committing many types of offenses early in life.
Law and Crime The Criminal's Sense of Uniqueness Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on August 24, 2021 Criminals think they are unique but do not realize that other criminals also see themselves in the same way Criminals think they are unique but do not realize that other criminals also see themselves in the same way
Psychosis Hearing Voices and Determining Criminal Responsibility Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on August 9, 2021 A quick study will never suffice A quick study will never suffice
Parental Alienation Rejecting a "Win" through Establishing "Alienation" Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on July 15, 2021 One parent could exploit the other parent's mental illness for his own self-serving agenda One parent could exploit the other parent's mental illness for his own self-serving agenda
Law and Crime Recipe for a Summer of Violence Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on July 2, 2021 The ingredients are present for a summer of increased crime The ingredients are present for a summer of increased crime
Parental Alienation "Weaponizing" a Child Through Parental Alienation Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on June 4, 2021 Extreme parental alienation is like a "parentectomy" in which a child loses a parent Extreme parental alienation is like a "parentectomy" in which a child loses a parent
Fear Solitary Confinement Can Be Necessary Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on April 30, 2021 Separating dangerous prisoners from the general population can save lives. Separating dangerous prisoners from the general population can save lives.
Alcoholism Generalizing a Point to an Absurdity: A Criminal's Tactic Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on April 7, 2021 A counselor may be taken in by this tactic of the criminal A counselor may be taken in by this tactic of the criminal
Resilience "Down the Rabbit Hole": A Book by Two Inmates Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on March 12, 2021 Two prison inmates deliver a scathing critique of the corrections establishment with constructive suggestions for change. Two prison inmates deliver a scathing critique of the corrections establishment with constructive suggestions for change.
Personality Does Psychotherapy Make Criminals Worse? Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on February 25, 2021 Might Tony Soprano have finally been amenable to therapy after Dr. Melfi terminated her contact with him? Might Tony Soprano have finally been amenable to therapy after Dr. Melfi terminated her contact with him?
Anger Tony Soprano's "Insatiable Anger" Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on February 7, 2021 A psychiatrist who fails to treat what should be obvious. A psychiatrist who fails to treat what should be obvious.
Anger Reducing Anger Through Cognitive Change Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on January 12, 2021 Correcting "errors in thinking" can prevent anger. Correcting "errors in thinking" can prevent anger.
Parental Alienation A Judge's Poignant Description of Parental Alienation Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on December 17, 2020 Saving a child's relationship with both parents. Saving a child's relationship with both parents.
Forensic Psychology What a Forensic Psychologist Does in a Child Custody Case Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on December 3, 2020 Custody evaluations may break legal logjams. Custody evaluations may break legal logjams.
Forensic Psychology What Does a Forensic Psychologist Do in a Criminal Case? Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on November 13, 2020 TV crime dramas usually tell little about what forensic psychologists actually do. TV crime dramas usually tell little about what forensic psychologists actually do.
Defense Mechanisms "I Snapped": Is This an Explanation or Rationalization? Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. on October 19, 2020 Does "I snapped" really mean that a person behaved out of character? Does "I snapped" really mean that a person behaved out of character?