Violent Attachments

by Reid J. Meloy

Overview

This book is written for psychotherapists, psychologists, psychoanalysts, psychiatrists, and social workers in clinical or forensic practice. Biological foci include concepts about the deep limbic structures of the brain and the biochemistry that inhibits or disinhibits such violence. Psychological patterns include both psychoanalytic constructs and the specific psychological test data from the case studies that support such constructs. Social factors include the behavior of the victim and, in the case of assassination, the political acts that contribute to predatory violence. Dr. Meloy emphasizes the crucial need for mental health professionals to go beyond descriptive diagnoses and find the motivation and meaning of such acts. The professional's causal and purposive formulations about such violent attachments lead to more effective evaluation, treatment, and intervention, and perhaps testimony in subsequent criminal and civil litigation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781461632467
Publisher:	Aronson, Jason Inc.
Publication date:	02/01/1997
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	366
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

J. Reid Meloy, Ph.D., is a diplomate in forensic psychology of the American Board of Professional Psychology. Chief of the Court Services, Forensic Mental Health Division for San Diego County, he also devotes time to a private civil and criminal forensic practice, research, writing, and teaching. He is an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine; a clinical associate professor of psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology, San Diego; and an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego School of Law. Additionally, he is a Fellow of the Society for Personality Assessment and was recently elected President of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology. In 1992 he received the Distinguished Contribution to Psychology as a Profession Award from the California Psychological Association.

Editorial Reviews

Violent Attachments is a work of professional excellence and practical usefulness to help us better understand violent thoughts and acts. It combines careful attention to clinical detail with reader-gripping creativity. This is a book both to read quickly because it is hard to put down, and then to read again, slowly, in order to absorb and digest its breadth and depth of wisdom.

Sherry L. Skidmore

Dr. Meloy has cast a bright light into the dark world of violent individuals and those who attach themselves to them.

Larry H. Strasburger

With this superb volume Reid Meloy transports the reader to remote locations that lie at the extremes of human experience. At these outposts we are privy to bizarre tales that reveal the violent underpinnings of love relationships. The mental health professions are indebted to Dr. Meloy for mapping this uncharted territory and for recognizing that in studying the 'outliers,' we learn more about ourselves.

Glen O. Gabbard

Violent Attachments is an extremely valuable addition to the literature on aggression. Meloy has shed light on how deranged and fantasized relationships can lead to stalking, threats, and even death.

John R. Lion

With this superb volume Reid Meloy transports the reader to remote locations that lie at the extremes of human experience. At these outposts we are privy to bizarre tales that reveal the violent underpinnings of love relationships. The mental health professions are indebted to Dr. Meloy for mapping this uncharted territory and for recognizing that in studying the 'outliers, ' we learn more about ourselves.--Glen O. Gabbard, M.D.

Violent Attachments is a work of professional excellence and practical usefulness to help us better understand violent thoughts and acts. It combines careful attention to clinical detail with reader-gripping creativity. This is a book both to read quickly because it is hard to put down, and then to read again, slowly, in order to absorb and digest its breadth and depth of wisdom.--Sherry L. Skidmore, Ph.D.

Violent Attachments is an extremely valuable addition to the literature on aggression. Meloy has shed light on how deranged and fantasized relationships can lead to stalking, threats, and even death.--John R. Lion, M.D.

From the Publisher