Raise your hand if you have been a die-hard fan of the “Criminal Minds” TV- Series. This was hands down, my favourite show to watch in my early twenties. I was so mesmerised by the idea I committed to becoming a forensic psychologist like many.
As it turned out, I did become a psychologist, but the forensic part fell out of the equation pretty soon. Nonetheless, I have always kept a keen (professional) interest in the study and understanding of disturbed minds.
Are you ready to tap into the darkest corners of the human mind with me?
Then check these three psychologist-approved titles.
“The Anatomy of Violence: The Biological Roots of Crime” by Dr Adrian Raine
Dr Reine is a British psychologist and one of the biggest names in antisocial and violent behaviour science.
This book is an extremely good primer for the field of forensic psychology. The book contains insights into the role of biological (e.g., genes, hormones, neurotransmitters, brain structures) as well as cognitive and environmental factors (e.g., inhibitory skills, socio-economic status, family relations, etc.) playing a role in criminal behaviour. The book is well-written and offers cross-cultural and legal perspectives.
To be fully honest, some of the data and the conclusions presented in the book are a bit “outdated” and should be re-evaluated in light of the updated evidence. Nonetheless, this book remains the perfect introductory read.
“Bad Men: The Hidden Roots of Sexual Deception, Harassment, and Assault” by Dr David Buss
This is a new title by the renowned evolutionary psychologist Dr David Buss. As its title suggests, its focus is the dark side of sexual and mating human relations. The writing style is very accessible, and the book reads smoothly.
It offers many insights into in-person and online mating behaviours in both men and women. You will learn a lot about deception, harassment, jealousy, you name it. The book covers uncomfortable topics such as rape and intimate partner violence. And all of these topics are covered from multi-cultural perspectives, which I liked.
I believe that this is a book every man and woman should read. Maybe finally, you will know the answer to the question, “What do women want?”
“The Devil You Know: Encounters in Forensic Psychiatry” by Dr Gwen Adshead
This is, hands down, THE best book of 2022, in my opinion. It offers a highly unique and very empathetic perspective on forensic psychiatry. Dr Adshead is a renowned British psychiatrist with decades of experience working with violent offenders. Using a compelling and very engaging narrative that reads like a good novel, she tells us about some of her most memorable cases while presenting her patients with compassion and preserving their dignity and humanity. You get to see both sides of a psychiatrist struggling to help her patients and the pure, human tragedy of a broken mind.
This book is a true stereotype-breaker!
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