Cyrulnik approaches the subject of suicide in children from different disciplines: possible neurological causes related to experiencing different trauCyrulnik approaches the subject of suicide in children from different disciplines: possible neurological causes related to experiencing different traumas during early life; from a psychological perspective, due to an unconscious identification with important figures that committed suicide at some point; and a sociological explanation related to family structures, culture, media, migration, etcetera. Plenty of statistical data is included and there's a vast amount of book citations in every chapter. However, the writing doesn't get too technical which makes this book easy to follow and accessible to a wider audience beyond the medical field (parents, educators, social workers).
The book reads as a social critique to the lack of meaning new generations face in their lives. We have smarter and increasingly more skilled kids but they're more dependent than ever before. They have material wealth but live in affective misery. In the era of mass communication, we've reached alarming levels of isolation. Is there anything to be done? Whose job is it? Which is the right discipline to turn to? Yes, there's something to be done and it's society's job, meaning it's everyone's job. Parents, educators, medics, psychologists, social workers, politicians, voluntaries... everyone can pitch in! But we need an interdisciplinary approach, ideally funded by the government. Knowing this is a very, very farfetched ideal we have to start working solo (better parenting, school programs, prevention centers, etcetera). No effort is too little or unimportant if it contributes to saving someone's life....more
After hearing a lot of hype around the Mindhunter TV show I decided to watch a few episodes and wasn't really into it, to the point that I kind of actAfter hearing a lot of hype around the Mindhunter TV show I decided to watch a few episodes and wasn't really into it, to the point that I kind of actually disliked it and dropped it. So, when I was gifted this book I wasn't sure what to expect. Luckily, I liked it much, much better than the TV show.
The first couple of chapters were a bit uninteresting but understandably necessary, covering the author's background and education and the events that led him into working on the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit. After that it was faster paced, going over case after case, describing it all since his unit was contacted, the crime scene, the profile they came up with and the hunt for the killer.
Although not the main point of the book, the author does give his opinion on how killers come to me, discussing the biological and social explanations and finally explaining why he considers that killers are made, not born. The concept of legal insanity is also explored and the debate about possible rehabilitation for criminals is also mentioned. The author isn't shy about his negative view on psychiatries, who are portrayed as gullible schmucks.
There's several popular cases (BTK, Richard Speck, Charles Manson) and some not so known ones. Despite how popular or not, I found every case to be informative and enlightening. The only case I didn't care for was Jack the Ripper, which felt lacking and out of place in this book.
As other reviewers have pointed out, there's something off with how infallible the author's profiles are portrayed as. There were explanations to how some of the characteristics of a profile were deduced (such as social ineptitude from the way the killer went for a surprise attack instead of luring a victim with cunning lies) but some others seemed to come out of nowhere (like stating the suspect would have grey hair or drive a red car). The author states repetitively and tiringly that this is not some voodoo stuff, that he removed the BS from the Behavioral Science Unit, yet the lack of "so that one time we got it wrong but we learned from it" or "this and this misled us into an inaccurate profile" makes it look like he was a master profiler out of nowhere after interviewing a couple of criminals. He even went as far as compare himself and his agents to some cowboys riding into town and taking care of business and walking away into the sunset leaving silver bullets behind for the awestruck, dumbfounded local officers. Seems to me that when this was written the author still felt criminal psychology was in need of validation from law enforcement and the public, so he only featured his successful cases in an attempt to shut his detractors up.
Leaving that aside, I consider this book very enjoyable and informative and one of the best I've read in a while. A must read for true crime fans....more
The title of this book is exactly what you get: a general introduction to psychoanalytic concepts regarding the stages of psychosexual development in The title of this book is exactly what you get: a general introduction to psychoanalytic concepts regarding the stages of psychosexual development in children, which can be of use to teachers to better understand children's behaviors or personalities.
If you're looking for techniques on how to deal with students or help them solve their issues, this is not the right book for you. As I read I kept trying to guess what teachers I know would think of the text; sadly, it didn't feel like this would be well received by them and would probably be considered nonsensical or perverted. The first and last chapters are, in my opinion, the most focused on the struggles faced by teachers inside classrooms, and probably the ones with better chances of being well received by education professionals.
There are interesting questions about what could happen if parents and educators weren't as strict with younglings while growing up and there's also mention of failed attempts at creating schools run on psychoanalytic principles, such as the one by Vera Schmidt. I would say this book could be of help to psychologists working in schools and I can also totally see this book being useful to those who just started their studies on Psychology since it covers in a simple, reader friendly way what the unconscious mind is, the psychosexual stages, the psychic apparatus, the concept of repression, transference and sublimation and the Oedipus complex....more
Someone asked me why I was reading a seemingly too basic book about working with teenagers. My answer was that it never hurts to go back and review baSomeone asked me why I was reading a seemingly too basic book about working with teenagers. My answer was that it never hurts to go back and review basic concepts. I found this books to be very useful and I wish I could have come across it back in the days when I first started my clinical practice. It's a little too directive at some point but I think when you're just starting you feel perfectly fine with having a guideline to lean on. ...more
Very practical book about working (and living!) with teenagers. It starts by painting a picture of what adolescence is like nowadays and the strugglesVery practical book about working (and living!) with teenagers. It starts by painting a picture of what adolescence is like nowadays and the struggles (biological, psychological and social) that are faced during this life stage. Common neurotic symptoms during adolescence are described as well as crisis, these being more serious situations related to risk behaviors.
Nasio gives you a full picture of how to proceed when your faced with a teenager patient, covering aspects from the first phone call you get, the first interview and establishing the length of the treatment. There's also a nice final chapter covering extracts from Freud's and Lacan's works about adolescence.
This book is not only useful for psychologist but also for parents (who also get a few chapters with tips on how to deal with their adolescent sons and daughters) and educators. I'm very glad this was recommended to me and will do the same whenever I come across someone struggling with teenagers....more
Schatzman presents a new take on Daniel Schreber’s story, which was made famous by Freud as an example of the mechanisms implied in psychosis. The theSchatzman presents a new take on Daniel Schreber’s story, which was made famous by Freud as an example of the mechanisms implied in psychosis. The thesis offered by Schartzman is mainly based on correlations between Schereber’s deliriums and his father’s authoritarian educational practices, which were curiously overlooked by Freud while working the case. The author makes a strong point of questioning the idea that all paranoid claims are merely delusions or projections based on repressed unacceptable desires. Using Schreber’s father’s writing as an insight of what his childhood must have been like, Schatzman claims to have found a factual nature behind Daniel Schreber’s persecutory ideas. Well researched and straightforward, it is in my opinion a recommended read for those interested in the etiology of psychosis (or schizophrenia, as it is referred to in the text) and the role that family dynamics and society play in the development of pathological behavior....more
Two years have passed since I read the first installment of this series. I had it on my wishlist since and finally got to purchasing it. I was a bit hTwo years have passed since I read the first installment of this series. I had it on my wishlist since and finally got to purchasing it. I was a bit hesitant before starting, for it was a 400+ pages long novel but the pleasant memory of the previous book encouraged me to keep on.
Surprisingly, I was flying through the pages at a quick pace, getting reacquainted with the characters and narrative style. Perhaps the nods and winks to psychological themes and personalities don't agree with some reader but those that are familiar with them will have a few chuckles reading those bits.
One thing I didn't like so much, which is actually the reason I'm not giving this book the highest rating, is that the antagonist characters weren't memorable at all, and the big number of German patronyms didn't help one bit.
I'm positive I'll be getting more books of this series but I think I'll take some time to pick it up again. It seems to me that the psychoanalytic crime solving formula is good but not very versatile, so it's better to read these novels in intervals....more
Interesting account of how education has evolved through the ages and how it isn't as advanced as we think (or more like 'as advanced as the governmenInteresting account of how education has evolved through the ages and how it isn't as advanced as we think (or more like 'as advanced as the government wants us to think'). The author's thesis is basically that education should be in constant change to meet the demands of an rapidly evolving society. But no matter how many reforms and new models are imposed by the people in charge things stays pretty much the same flawed way... 'cause that's the way they want education to be. I was a bit taken aback by the author's disregard of the importance of grammar, literature and philosophy in the educational process. And I gasped when he stated that the teaching of Latin and Greek doesn't add much to a student's formation. I do see benefits on the teaching of these subject but I also agree that they are not that much useful in our present society. Interesting view on what Humanities are and how we interpret them as well. It's a well researched text and I'll try to get my hands on some of the author's other books ('La psicologÃa en la escuela' sounds enticing enough)....more
I loved this book. It's not about psychological concepts or psychotherapeutic techniques per se (although several are mentioned, of course), more likeI loved this book. It's not about psychological concepts or psychotherapeutic techniques per se (although several are mentioned, of course), more like the way we psychotherapists experience those concepts and techniques in our clinic practice. The way the book is written is easy to understand and very warm. The author cover a wide range of issues that every new professional on this area faces when dealing with patients. The anxiety, the difficulty to accept mistakes, the shame of not knowing all the answers, it's all there. The author makes very insightful connections between the problems we face as psychotherapists and our personal history. Reading this is really an inner journey. I wish I had read this before started my practice, it would have eased my mind a lot....more
A compilation of stories about women's problems with men. Every story is a clinical case that shows the misconceptions of what a woman is meant to be A compilation of stories about women's problems with men. Every story is a clinical case that shows the misconceptions of what a woman is meant to be in society and what is expected of her and her partner on an heterosexual relationship....more
It's hard rating a book about someone's life. I think it was a nice introduction to Jung's works, letting us know when were certain texts written and It's hard rating a book about someone's life. I think it was a nice introduction to Jung's works, letting us know when were certain texts written and in which circumstances, as to get a better understanding of Jung's points of view. Things are easier when you get some context. Quite a colorful yet secluded and misunderstood life Jung had. It's sad finishing reading a biography 'cause as you read you learn about the person behind the public figure but you know the chapter about their demise will come soon. Jung's theories are not examined in depth here but it's a good point for a beginner to get some directions....more
Peculiar little book that relates the story of Charcot and his followers and detractors. The author shows the reader the way the term Hysteria was defPeculiar little book that relates the story of Charcot and his followers and detractors. The author shows the reader the way the term Hysteria was defined since ancient times (old manuscrips) till present time (DSM). Although the book's title hints to the subject of male hysteria it only mentions the way hysteria was slowly detached of its feminine exclusivity. Although it isn't a complicated book I wouldn't recommend it to layman readers, for the amount of contradictory definitions could confuse them....more
Perhaps I'm a little biased when rating this book, as I being a psychologist the whole book felt like a series of winks and nudges to what I've studiePerhaps I'm a little biased when rating this book, as I being a psychologist the whole book felt like a series of winks and nudges to what I've studied for years. But putting that aside I have to say it's a very enjoyable novel with interesting characters, nicely paced and well thought. I get the impression the author really did his homework and put his mind into getting right the historical setting of the story. I'll most probably read the sequels....more
My, rating old books is hard. Alright, basically this whole book is made of case histories focusing on people's different sexual pathologies. Who thesMy, rating old books is hard. Alright, basically this whole book is made of case histories focusing on people's different sexual pathologies. Who these people are is unkmown, and I get the feeling most of them were not Krafft-Ebing's patients, but instead cases picked up from newspapers, closed criminal cases and hearsay from all over the world. I mean, he goes as far as classifying Jack the Ripper's case.
This is a completely outdated book and it's only value is serving as a reference of how morally constrained psychology (if you can call it that) used to be. The author keeps calling the people on these stories monsters, deficient, and other berating adjectives. Masturbation was thought to bring 'neurasthenia', sexual dysfunction and whatever the author choosed to say. Here's a quote straight from the book to illustrate this: "No doubt excessive masturbation brought about neurosis and inverted sexuality to which he was led by excessive libido." It's appalling how these poor people were so mislead by their psychiatrist.
And of course, this was written back when psychopathology was thought to be an hereditary trait. First thing Krafft-Ebing wrote down on every case, right after the name and age of the patient, was all the 'taints' the patient's relatives possessed. A drunkard mother, a suicidal cousin, a depressed sister... these were all possible causes to the patient's maladies. The author was also very set on listing epilepsy as the reason behind big part of these pathologies.
The most insightful parts of the book and the ones I enjoyed the most are the times Krafft-Ebing steps aside and just transcribe letters or self written biographies of the patients. Their reasonings and first-hand account of suffering for being different tell much more than all the inconsequential physical snips of information the author presents us with.
Finishing this book took me a while 'cause I kept putting it down again and again. Krafft-Ebing was not a literary award winner, let me tell you that. After reading three or four cases of a certain pathology it's like you've read them all already. And something that bothered me a lor while reading it was that they are almost always inconclusive. It's like the author had no idea about anything that went on with the patient's thoughts and never attempted any treatment; he just limited himself to classify their sexual practices and find an organic origin for them.
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