Review of Abby Stein's book "Prologue to Violence:Child Abuse" -
[also known as the Vampire Theory of crime]
Abby Stein's important book sings in many keys at the same time. In one key, she challenges the wish that serial killers, pedophiles and other heinous criminals were "bad seeds," a very different species from us "decent folk." Her book opens with this telling quotation:
"Pedophiles are other people; rapists are other people; murderers are other people. It is hard for the mind to know itself as wicked. It tells itself a different story, keeping the darkness at bay" (Nikki Gerard p. 1).
Stein show us convincingly that criminal acts are the expression of dissociated alters spawned during childhood torture at the hands of family members. Her insights are crucial and neglected. An illustration of just how badly Stein's theories are needed is a recent New York Times book review of a sensationally smart serial killer. The review regales us with tales of this crafty killer without ever mentioning his childhood. [...]
[also known as the Vampire Theory of crime]
Abby Stein's important book sings in many keys at the same time. In one key, she challenges the wish that serial killers, pedophiles and other heinous criminals were "bad seeds," a very different species from us "decent folk." Her book opens with this telling quotation:
"Pedophiles are other people; rapists are other people; murderers are other people. It is hard for the mind to know itself as wicked. It tells itself a different story, keeping the darkness at bay" (Nikki Gerard p. 1).
Stein show us convincingly that criminal acts are the expression of dissociated alters spawned during childhood torture at the hands of family members. Her insights are crucial and neglected. An illustration of just how badly Stein's theories are needed is a recent New York Times book review of a sensationally smart serial killer. The review regales us with tales of this crafty killer without ever mentioning his childhood. [...]
This very poorly written review is actually so far left wing as to be almost anarchist. It opposes jailing murderers and child molesters, for example, suggesting that they be gently trained how to be upstanding citizens.
ReplyDeleteQuite out of place on this blog.
My goal is to present what is going on in this field.
ReplyDeleteProf Abby Stein's work is very influential. So it doesn't matter whether the review is well written the question is whether it is accurate
I will be attending a presentation by Prof. Stein next week - any questions comments etc will be appreciated