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Understanding and treating the psychopath
Clinical Psycholqpy Review, Vol. 8, pp. pp. 253-254,
Printed
1988
Copyright
in the USA. All rights reserved.
0272-7358/88 $3.00 + .OO 0 1988 Pergamon Press plc
BOOK REVIEWS Understanding 1987.
$32.00
and Treating
hardbound.
the Psychopath.
John
Wiley
& Sons,
New York.
269 pp.
This book is intended to present clinical and experimental data on the generic concept of psychopathy or sociopathy. The DSM III counterpart to the author’s view of psychopathy is the Antisocial Personality Disorder. The first half of this book consists of a generally accurate literature review of five theories regarding the psychopath; the second half consists of clinical impressions of the author in regard to the treatment of the psychopath. No new data is presented by the author to substantiate the therapeutic suggestions to deal with various psychopathic behavior, such as limit testing and deception, although many of the suggestions make
good sense
and have been
tive” theory of the development nation of other theories which
part of the clinical
lore for decades.
of psychopathy is proffered, differentially focuson such
An “integra-
based upon a combiareas as stimulation-
seeking behavior, biological arousal mechanisms, and learned helplessness experiences. The theory has some heuristic value with some of its component parts capable of hypothesis testing. In general, the book would probably be helpful to entry level mental health professionals substantial number of psychopathic clients.
working
in service
settings
HAROLD
with
a
V. HALL
Psychological Consultants, Honolulu
Adolescent Anger Control: Cognitive Behavioral New York. $19.50 ($10.95 softcover). 142 pp.
Techniques.
Pcrgamon
Press,
Similar to other books in the Practitioner Guidebooks Series, this book presents the authors’ treatment program for conducting group/individual anger control interventions with adolescents. Like most programs that evolve from actual clinical experience with a specific target problem, this treatment manual includes a variety of practical ideas ranging from suggested group leader characteristics, to a smorgasbord of educational exercises for implementing treatment goals, to a troubleshooter’s list of hints why treatment was unsuccessful. The authors treatment program involves a collection of principles and procedures from the assertion training, stress inoculation, and general social learning literatures, some of which have been previously used by Novaco and by Goldstein and his colleagues in their work on anger management. Although the goals of the authors’ program seem logical and the skills for each phase are relevant, there is no basis for determining which type of skills areas are necessary or sufficient to effect anger control. At the close of the first chapter the authors conclude from their literature review that there is little comparative research on anger control techniques to guide the design of treatments. Instead of offering some conceptual overview for 253
Printed
1988
Copyright
in the USA. All rights reserved.
0272-7358/88 $3.00 + .OO 0 1988 Pergamon Press plc
BOOK REVIEWS Understanding 1987.
$32.00
and Treating
hardbound.
the Psychopath.
John
Wiley
& Sons,
New York.
269 pp.
This book is intended to present clinical and experimental data on the generic concept of psychopathy or sociopathy. The DSM III counterpart to the author’s view of psychopathy is the Antisocial Personality Disorder. The first half of this book consists of a generally accurate literature review of five theories regarding the psychopath; the second half consists of clinical impressions of the author in regard to the treatment of the psychopath. No new data is presented by the author to substantiate the therapeutic suggestions to deal with various psychopathic behavior, such as limit testing and deception, although many of the suggestions make
good sense
and have been
tive” theory of the development nation of other theories which
part of the clinical
lore for decades.
of psychopathy is proffered, differentially focuson such
An “integra-
based upon a combiareas as stimulation-
seeking behavior, biological arousal mechanisms, and learned helplessness experiences. The theory has some heuristic value with some of its component parts capable of hypothesis testing. In general, the book would probably be helpful to entry level mental health professionals substantial number of psychopathic clients.
working
in service
settings
HAROLD
with
a
V. HALL
Psychological Consultants, Honolulu
Adolescent Anger Control: Cognitive Behavioral New York. $19.50 ($10.95 softcover). 142 pp.
Techniques.
Pcrgamon
Press,
Similar to other books in the Practitioner Guidebooks Series, this book presents the authors’ treatment program for conducting group/individual anger control interventions with adolescents. Like most programs that evolve from actual clinical experience with a specific target problem, this treatment manual includes a variety of practical ideas ranging from suggested group leader characteristics, to a smorgasbord of educational exercises for implementing treatment goals, to a troubleshooter’s list of hints why treatment was unsuccessful. The authors treatment program involves a collection of principles and procedures from the assertion training, stress inoculation, and general social learning literatures, some of which have been previously used by Novaco and by Goldstein and his colleagues in their work on anger management. Although the goals of the authors’ program seem logical and the skills for each phase are relevant, there is no basis for determining which type of skills areas are necessary or sufficient to effect anger control. At the close of the first chapter the authors conclude from their literature review that there is little comparative research on anger control techniques to guide the design of treatments. Instead of offering some conceptual overview for 253