Evil Minds: Understanding and Responding to Violent Predators - Softcover

Meadows, Robert J.; Kuehnel, Julie

3.5

8 ratings by Goodreads

9780130486134: Evil Minds: Understanding and Responding to Violent Predators

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0130486132 ISBN 13: 9780130486134

Publisher: Pearson, 2004

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This unique, engaging book uses a multi-disciplinary approach in an effort to understand the “evil minds” of criminals that engage in predatory violence. Evil Minds uses the study of the “monsters” among us—serial killers, mass murderers, child molesters and rapists—to introduce readers to the theories, concepts and research from the fields of psychology, sociology, criminology & criminal justice that social scientists employ to understand and respond to violent criminals. A three-part organization covers: violent crimes: types and patterns, sources of predatory violence, and investigating and prosecuting evil. For a variety of individuals working tin the criminal justice field who try to understand, analyze, investigate, and prosecute violent criminal offenders.

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From the Back Cover:

Violent predators are motivated by many fantasies and illnesses, and there are no limits to their sadistic pursuits to satisfy their evil desires. Evil Minds: Understanding and Responding to Violent Predators is a unique and comprehensive approach to the subject of sex offenders, serial murderers, mass murderers, and spree killers. Not only are theories and causation factors explored, but also the investigative and the forensic approaches in the treatment and punishment of these predators are discussed and evaluated.

In Evil Minds: Understanding and Responding to Violent Predators, eleven chapters are devoted to the theories, motives, criminal justice responses, victim characteristics, treatment approaches, and the forensics employed in analyzing and identifying violent predators. The reader is educated on the various types of offender behavior including motives, opportunity, and methods of criminality. Rapists, pedophiles, and murderers are compared and discussed from both a psychological, social, and investigative framework. There is also attention devoted to female violent predators, comparing their violent behaviors and motives to men. The application of the justice system is examined as it pertains to processing violent predators, including the determination of insanity. Real life case studies show the psychological and social dynamics creating evil minds, as well as depicting how these predators are hunted and apprehended.

The reader is further acquainted with the scientific methods used by social scientists to study crime and violence. The basic elements of research such as hypothesis, sampling, validity, and variable identification are explained. Research design methods are discussed, including the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Evil Minds: Understanding and Responding to Violent Predators is a much needed work because unlike other books on forensics, criminal psychology, or violence, it provides the reader with theoretical, legal, and applied information. Written by a psychologist and criminal justice professor who both have applied experiences, the chapters and learning exercises offer a blend of psychology, criminal justice, criminology, and practical forensics. Justice practitioners, forensic experts, and the average citizen should find this book relevant and insightful.

About the Author:

Dr. Julie M. Kuehnel earned her doctorate in Educational Psychology at the University of Texas and is a licensed clinical psychologist in California. She is currently Professor/Chair of Psychology at California Lutheran University, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses. She came to CLU with experience as an Assistant Research Psychologist at UCLA specializing in behavior therapy; as a private practice clinician; and as a trainer/consultant to Camarillo State Hospital, Atascadero State Hospital, and the Center for the Improvement of Child Caring. Dr. Kuehnel coauthored the Handbook of Marital Therapy and articles and book chapters on the treatment of mental disorders.

Dr. Robert J. Meadows is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and is Director of the Graduate Program in Public Policy and Administration at California Lutheran University. Dr. Meadow's research and teaching interests include legal issues in criminal justice, private security, violence and victimization, and delinquency. He authored a book on Saudi Arabian justice and a parent's guide for coping with difficult teenagers. He also authored Understanding Violence and Victimization for Prentice Hall Publishing, now in its third edition. Dr. Meadows is a member of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and the American Society of Industrial Security.

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