Inside the Criminal Mind (Newly Revised Edition) Paperback – November 4, 2014

REALISTIC INSIGHTS…This is one of the most insightful books that I’ve read for a long time. It presents extensive evidence-by-experience that…—> … criminal behavior results from ‘stinking thinking.’—> … some criminals can change and have positively changed ‘stinking thinking' by slow and arduous — but rewarding — efforts, when assisted patiently by individuals trained and qualified to help.Having had years of extensive discussions with criminals of all sorts, this author is qualified to quite-logically link a panoply of criminal behaviors with criminals’ revealed problematic thinking behind them — most of which is extremely self-centered . Again, the author cites examples of success in modifying this ‘stinking thinking’ in criminals willing to change, resulting in LASTING change.…VS. DETERMINISTIC HYPOTHESESThe author provides many examples of why so many untested (or unsuccessfully tested) and clearly-deterministic-minded theories common in criminology wrongly focus on and blame factors *exterior* to criminals — while neglecting the root causes embedded in the *mindsets* of these individuals.—> Do exterior factors influence criminal thinking? Doubtless they do to some extent. We are ALL — law-abiding and criminal — influenced by genetics and by attitudes, teachings, and difficulties around us. Perhaps many who’ve chosen the criminal life have been especially so influenced.—> However, the author provides many examples of ineffectiveness and harm stemming from misdirected-blame theories and hypotheses. He cites cases in which two individuals in the same environment differently choose their thinking and resultant behaviors. The author also discusses examples of people from excellent environments who developed criminal mindsets early in life — despite loving parents and affluence.Teaching criminals all sorts of skills to legitimately succeed in life, WITHOUT changing the person inside, is often unsuccessful in in ending criminal behavior.SOME BOOK-INSPIRED THOUGHTSMight the criminal mind have in some ways ceded to evil influences — even beyond-the-brain* evil influences? Per the book, one criminal “…acted as though his emotions arose from outside himself and he had nothing to do with them.” Moreover, I’ve seen in myself — a morally-concerned, law-abiding citizen with a keen interest in ‘The Problem of Evil’ — some occasional negative thinking patterns analogous to what the author discusses. Other honest people will undoubtedly admit to such thoughts as well. What makes the difference then between…—>…my handling — and other responsible peoples’ handling — of such thoughts?—> …a criminal’s handling of such thoughts?Can it be that…—> ….the criminal mind has substantially yielded to beyond-the-brain* evil influences to think — and ultimately act — in evil ways?—> …the majority of minds — especially minds that have been instructed in positive moral principles — are less likely to yield to such influences?______________________________*I refuse to limit my perspectives to reductionist, scienTISMic assumptions that our minds are exclusively physical. Why? Because of my knowledge of clearly-external-to-brain events, including a plethora of amazingly-on-target premonitions [which, as an analytical person (a scientist), I don’t accept carelessly].

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Was the despicable criminal and murder spree on April 16, 2007 at Virginia Tech University by Seung-Hui-Cho because of his gender, race, parental upbringing, psychotic inclinations, or simply by the acts against him by those around him?None of the above, inclusive and or exclusive of either one of the purported reasons, if you read the theories and analytical presentations author Stanton E. Samenow, Ph.D., enumerates in his book titled "Inside the Criminal Mind."According to the author, it is a misconception the person inclined to be a criminal is because of his or her parental upbringing, poverty, influential friends, mother, father, family and neighborhood. In his book, "Inside the Criminal Mind," the author states, "Criminals cause crime - not bad neighborhoods, inadequate parents, television, schools, or unemployment. Crime resides in the minds of human beings and is not caused by social conditions."The author also discounts the theory of a psychotic mind, "...psychological theory, in its current state, is more misleading than illuminating in explaining why people become criminals. Far from being a formless lump of clay, the criminal shapes others more than they do him.""...criminals come from a wide variety of backgrounds - from the inner city, suburbia, rural areas and small towns and from many religious, racial or ethnic groups. They may grow up in closely knit families, broken homes, or orphanages. They may be grade school dropouts or college graduates, unemployed drifters or corporate executives. In most cases, they have brothers, sisters, and next-door neighbors who grew up under similar circumstances but did not become criminals."Thus the gestalt of "Inside the Criminal Mind," sets out to show criminals know right from wrong and the criminal is not the product of external sources. Criminal behavior is the product of the individuals' way of thinking.The author Samenow says, "I shall expose the myths about why criminals commit crimes. I shall draw a picture for you of the personality of the criminal just as the police artist draws a picture of his face from a description. I shall describe how criminals think, how they defend their crimes to others, and how they exploit programs that are developed to help them. I shall discuss what these people are like as children for, with systematic study; it is possible to identify at least some children who are predisposed to criminality."Looking back and thinking of the video Seung-Hui Cho made which was televised to the world, he did exactly what author Samenow illustrates in his book which was publish way before Seung-Hui Cho came into being. The criminal never takes responsibility for his acts and blames everyone and everything for his shortcomings and worse yet, for his criminal mind. Those of us who saw the video and were not aware how the criminal and his mind thinks, felt a sense of guilt and culpability for the despicable crimes he committed. However, we did not mold him to be or do what he did, but he molded us to think we were the ones responsible for his morally reprehensible and wretched act.I strongly recommend "Inside the Criminal Mind." Everyone, parents, teachers, administrators, people at large should read it to better understand the mind of a criminal.Reference the coming of age in the following novel:The Kids on the Block

This is a no nonsense book with plenty of insights into how criminals think and how they are different from others. The author deserves a lot of credit for keeping his analysis factual and honestly debunking many myths surrounding the cause of criminal personalities. His clear discrimination of 're-habilitation' vs. 'habilitation' is very illuminating. Although the author acknowledges the importance of thinking and how it impacts the criminal behavior, he does not go further into how thinking shapes ideas held by the criminal and how those ideas shape his personality. Nevertheless, this book is rich in examples of criminal personalities and is a must read for keeping your understanding grounded on facts.

Very informative, sensible analysis from someone with an unparalleled clinical expertise as far as I can tell. Fascinating, but not overly optimistic. A great companion to Rafael Mangual's Criminal Injustice.

This was an excellent book! It definitely holds your attention and makes you want to read it Conover to back! Highly recommend

This book is perfect for those who want to follow the narrative of a criminals mind.I’m 1% away from studying to become a criminal analyst.

Working with people in incarceration, there is always this expectation that if we just provide more programs then people will work on changing their behavior. Watching people cycle in and out of prison, I now have a much better understanding of the ‘why’. Unfortunately I also had to come to terms with that ‘the fix’ is a lot more complex than just providing habilitative programming. Great read for anyone who works in a jail or prison.