If you’re a fan of true crime or crime-related content, then it’s probably safe to say that you’ve considered exploring the insights that professionals have gained on the internal thought processes of the criminal mind and other aspects of criminal psychology. Whether it was a fleeting interest or something you’ve homed in on and gone on a deep dive through, criminal psychology is a subject that is prevalent in the modern world as we aim to understand what makes criminals do what they do. This article will explore the subgenre of criminal psychology and recommend some books that you must read within it.
What Is Criminal Psychology?
Criminal psychology is the study of the motivation and behaviors of people who commit crimes. From petty thieves to serial killers, criminal psychologists take multi-faceted, interdisciplinary approaches to understanding their minds.
Some psychologists look at the biology and brain chemistry of criminals. Others use psychological interviews and analysis to gather information directly from the source. Many psychologists work with law enforcement to analyze crimes and confirm that the acts were committed by someone intentionally, rather than someone suffering from severe mental instability (though it has long been debated whether the ability to commit crime without remorse is a sign of mental illness itself).
Criminal psychology is often gruesome but a very necessary field. Not only do criminal psychologists work to understand criminals, but many work with organizations and government policymakers to come up with ways to help rehabilitate criminals and lower the risk of them committing more crimes when they are released from prison.
What Makes Criminal Psychology So Appealing?
The answer to this question is complex, but the simplest answer is that criminal psychology (and true crime) is like a car crash. We want to look away, but we just can’t – it’s a morbid curiosity that hooks us in. We are drawn to the forbidden, taboo subjects of the world and want to know more about them. We don’t want to commit crimes ourselves – maybe we even want to prevent them. So we study criminals and take a deeper look into their minds to figure out why they do what they do and how we can stop them.
Some people are fascinated by criminal psychology because it gives them a sense of safety. Understanding something so difficult and complex can give a person a sense of security in knowing that there are very specific criteria that make up serial killers. If the criteria are specific, then it’s easy to go to bed at night knowing that the odds of your neighbor being a sadistic killer are lower than your fear tells you it is.
Now that we’ve discussed what criminal psychology is and its appeal, let’s take a look at some book recommendations within this subgenre of nonfiction.
The Devil You Know by Dr. Gwen Adshead & Eileen Horne
In a thought-provoking and challenging series of portraits, The Devil You Know draws upon Dr. Gwen Adshead’s 30+ years as a forensic psychiatrist and asks questions like “What motivates someone to commit an act of violence?”. This book looks at what human cruelty means to the perpetrators themselves, with results varying from confession and rehabilitation to outright denial that their act was “evil”.
The Mind of a Murderer by Dr. Richard Taylor
Dr. Richard Taylor’s The Mind of a Murderer examines the innermost workings of the human psyche and asks the question “Could any of us become a killer if the circumstances depended on it?”. This book also looks at the thought processes of the doctor himself, and his experiences in talking with and treating criminals throughout his career.
Mindhunter by John Douglas
You might have heard of the fictionalized Netflix series titled Mindhunter based on this novel and the author’s work – John Douglas spent over 25 years working for the FBI’s serial crime unit, working to catch some of America’s most notorious criminals. In this book which is part memoir, part true crime, Douglas shares his story and experiences.
The Anatomy of Motive by John Douglas & Mark Olshaker
In another fantastic look at the minds of criminals, John Douglas explores the antisocial personality and the fascinating yet horrifying escalation of behavior that comes from sociopathic tendencies. Not only does this book explore serial killers but also seemingly ordinary people who go on random killing sprees or school shootings.
Sons of Cain by Peter Vronsky
This book is a little bit different, as rather than simply exploring the inner workings of the serial killer’s mind it also looks at the history of killers throughout time. Focusing on killers who also commit sexual crimes, Sons of Cain covers a tremendous span of time dating back to the pre-civilization era to the modern day.
Conclusion
There is a morbid fascination with killers that humans have grasped onto to understand the world better. Whether you are interested in true crime and criminal psychology because you want to understand the inner workings of the criminal mind or simply find it interesting, there is a book in this subgenre for you. While this list is not exhaustive, it provides a solid foundation to get started.
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