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Loading... Violence: Reflections on a National Epidemicby James Gilligan
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. somewhat dated but still a very strong argument that shame is the source of all violence ( ) I was prompted to read this book by watching the movie "Shutter Island". I believe the author was a consultant for the movie, and the character played by Ben Kingsley was *very* loosely based upon him, from a professional point of view. The character in the movie does convey one of the central messages of this book, that in order to prevent the incidence of violence you must understand its causes, and -- this is the important part -- this includes the consideration of what the violence means to the perpetrator, that the most seemingly senseless acts of violence have a logic when considered from the perpetrator's point of view. The evaluation of someone who commits violence should not be limited to distinction between "mad" (he's crazy so his actions make no sense and motivations aren't relevant to sensible society) and "bad" (he's chosen an evil path in life so, again, his motivations aren't relevant to sensible society). Both of these categories are inherently dismissive, and not conducive to gaining understanding of why violence happens and what can therefore be done to reduce its incidence. For me this was a novel perspective and thought-provoking. The author goes through several abbreviated descriptions of patients/inmates/prisoners he has evaluated and treated and arrives at conclusions about their crimes that were, for me, unexpected. This book was ridiculous. It was written by a Massachusetts state prison psychologist and helps illustrate what is wrong with Massachusetts as a whole. He advocates coddling criminals and refuses to accept that some people are just bad.…that there is nothing you can do to change them or make them behave in a socially acceptable way. The author advocates what so many other Massachusetts residents advocate instead, more social entitlement programs, more money thrown at undeserving people and more hugs for felons. The "real life" criminals he describes are unrealistic and sound utterly contrived. In summary, this book reads like a limousine-liberals wet dream, it does *not* read like a realistic solution to any of our social problems. no reviews | add a review
James Gilligan lays the foundation for a complete re-thinking of the nature and meaning of violence in society. He reveals the motives of men who commit horrifying crimes, men who not only kill other people, but also destroy themselves rather than suffer shame and loss of self-respect. He focuses on how feelings of shame cause violent and vengeful behaviour, and argues that conventional punitive legal and penal systems which are based on notions of justice and retribution perpetuate violent behaviour. He was called in to the Massachusetts prison system because of the high rates of suicides and murders within state prisons there; when he left these rates had dropped almost to zero. This keenly argued and ground-breaking book is essential reading for everyone touched by violence, and all those who are working to prevent it and its consequences No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)303.6Social sciences Social Sciences; Sociology and anthropology Social Processes Conflict and conflict resolution ; ViolenceLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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