Bad boys, bad men : confronting antisocial personality disorder / Donald W. Black with C. Lindon Larson.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 229-231) and index.

Print version record.

Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- 1. A lurking threat : antisocial personality disorder and society -- 2. Searching for answers : the evolving psychiatric view of antisocial personality disorder -- 3. Bad boys to bad men : the symptoms of antisocial personality disorder -- 4. Naming the problem : the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder -- 5. Divergent paths : the natural history of antisocial personality disorder -- 6. Seeds of despair : the causes of antisocial personality disorder -- 7. Overcoming antisocial personality disorder : options for treatment -- 8. Power and pretense : the hidden antisocials -- 9. The antisocial murderer : Gacy and others -- 10. Antisocial personality disorder and families : finding ways to cope -- Epilogue : dispelling the myths -- Notes -- Recommended readings -- Index.

Whether called black sheep, sociopaths, felons, con men, or misfits, some men break all the rules. They shirk everyday responsibilities, abuse drugs and alcohol, take up criminal careers, and lash out at family members. In the worst cases, they commit rape, murder, and other acts of extreme violence as though they lack a conscience. What makes these men behave the way they do? This book examines antisocial personality disorder or ASP, the mysterious mental condition that underlies this lifelong penchant for bad behavior. The author draws on case studies, scientific data, and current events to explore antisocial behavior and to chart the history, nature, and treatment of a misunderstood disorder that affects up to seven million Americans. Citing new evidence from genetics and neuroscience, he argues that this condition is tied to biological causes and that some people are simply born bad. The book introduces us to people like Ernie, the quintessential juvenile delinquent who had an incestuous relationship with his mother and descended into crime and alcoholism; and John Wayne Gacy, the notorious serial killer whose lifelong pattern of misbehavior escalated to the rape and murder of more than 30 young men and boys. These compelling cases read like medical detective stories as Black tries to separate the lies these men tell from the facts of their lives. This book not only describes the warning signs that predict which troubled children are more likely to become dangerous adults, but also details progress toward treatment for ASP. This volume will be an essential resource for psychiatrists, psychologists, criminologists, victims of crime, families of individuals afflicted with ASP, and anyone else interested in understanding antisocial behavior.

English.

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