Homicidal Insanity, 1800-1985

Nonfiction, Health & Well Being, Medical, Specialties, Psychiatry, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Crimes & Criminals, Criminology
Cover of the book Homicidal Insanity, 1800-1985 by Janet Colaizzi, University of Alabama Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Janet Colaizzi ISBN: 9780817382674
Publisher: University of Alabama Press Publication: September 15, 2009
Imprint: University Alabama Press Language: English
Author: Janet Colaizzi
ISBN: 9780817382674
Publisher: University of Alabama Press
Publication: September 15, 2009
Imprint: University Alabama Press
Language: English

Homicidal insanity has remained a vexation to both the psychiatric and legal professions despite the panorama of scientific and social change during the past 200 years. The predominant opinion today among psychiatrists is that no correlation exists between dangerousness and specific mental disorders. But for generation after generation, psychiatrists have reported cases of insane homicide that were clinically similar. Although psychiatric theory changed and psychiatric nosology was inconsistent, the mental phenomena psychiatrists identified in such cases remained the same. The central thesis of Homicidal Insanity is that as psychiatric theory changed, psychiatrists regarded these phenomena variously as symptoms of mental disease or the disease in itself. It is possible to trace these phenomena throughout the history of Anglo-American psychiatric theory and practice. A secondary thesis of the book is that psychiatrists have used these phenomena as predictors and markers in the practical matters of preventing insane homicide and of testifying in the courts to defend the irresponsible and expose the culpable.

For 200 years, scientific and philosophical disagreement raised controversy and brought the issues to public attention. Still, to this day no rational method exists to discriminate the dangerous from the harmless in matters of involuntary commitment, nor insanity from crime in the courts.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Homicidal insanity has remained a vexation to both the psychiatric and legal professions despite the panorama of scientific and social change during the past 200 years. The predominant opinion today among psychiatrists is that no correlation exists between dangerousness and specific mental disorders. But for generation after generation, psychiatrists have reported cases of insane homicide that were clinically similar. Although psychiatric theory changed and psychiatric nosology was inconsistent, the mental phenomena psychiatrists identified in such cases remained the same. The central thesis of Homicidal Insanity is that as psychiatric theory changed, psychiatrists regarded these phenomena variously as symptoms of mental disease or the disease in itself. It is possible to trace these phenomena throughout the history of Anglo-American psychiatric theory and practice. A secondary thesis of the book is that psychiatrists have used these phenomena as predictors and markers in the practical matters of preventing insane homicide and of testifying in the courts to defend the irresponsible and expose the culpable.

For 200 years, scientific and philosophical disagreement raised controversy and brought the issues to public attention. Still, to this day no rational method exists to discriminate the dangerous from the harmless in matters of involuntary commitment, nor insanity from crime in the courts.

More books from University of Alabama Press

Cover of the book The Yellowhammer War by Janet Colaizzi
Cover of the book Inside Alabama by Janet Colaizzi
Cover of the book Theatre Symposium, Vol. 17 by Janet Colaizzi
Cover of the book Flowing Through Time by Janet Colaizzi
Cover of the book Choctaw Prophecy by Janet Colaizzi
Cover of the book Mark Twain and Money by Janet Colaizzi
Cover of the book Southern Heritage on Display by Janet Colaizzi
Cover of the book Democracy's Lot by Janet Colaizzi
Cover of the book The Packhorseman by Janet Colaizzi
Cover of the book Historic Indian Towns in Alabama, 1540-1838 by Janet Colaizzi
Cover of the book More Than Bread by Janet Colaizzi
Cover of the book Writing Religion by Janet Colaizzi
Cover of the book Twenty-Three Minutes to Eternity by Janet Colaizzi
Cover of the book On the Battlefield of Memory by Janet Colaizzi
Cover of the book Rhetorical Knowledge in Legal Practice and Critical Legal Theory by Janet Colaizzi
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy