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The Psychopath in Film by Wayne Wilson β€” book cover

The Psychopath in Film

by Wayne Wilson
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Overview

The Psychopath in Film examines the cognitive and emotional proficiency of psychopaths at surviving the goodness juggernaut using a model that takes into account three different levels of cognition and two levels of emotion. The prominent force of the soulless creature created in the cinema schemes as a connoisseur of evil. However, the psychopath must work at making evil work. Wayne Wilson assembles the cognitive and emotional fundamentals essential for evil's success. Cognitively, the psychopaths must possess the ability to maintain a calculating secrecy, they must harbor a flair for misdirection, and they must choose freely to abdicate responsibility while victimizing others. Emotionally, psychopaths should not feel remorse for their actions, and may benefit from the capacity to experience exuberance over their wicked ways, which tends to be the most compelling trait of psychopaths in films. This study delves into these tendencies as represented in the characters created in movies from classics through modern film, focusing on the question of the psychopath's possession of the aptitude to commit undue harm.

Author Biography: Wayne Wilson is Professor of Psychology at Stephen F. Austin State University and author of "Sexuality in the Land of Oz" (University Press of America, 1994).

Synopsis

The Psychopath in Film examines the cognitive and emotional proficiency of psychopaths at surviving the goodness juggernaut using a model that takes into account three different levels of cognition and two levels of emotion. The prominent force of the soulless creature created in the cinema schemes as a connoisseur of evil. However, the psychopath must work at making evil work. Wayne Wilson assembles the cognitive and emotional fundamentals essential for evil's success. Cognitively, the psychopaths must possess the ability to maintain a calculating secrecy, they must harbor a flair for misdirection, and they must choose freely to abdicate responsibility while victimizing others. Emotionally, psychopaths should not feel remorse for their actions, and may benefit from the capacity to experience exuberance over their wicked ways, which tends to be the most compelling trait of psychopaths in films. This study delves into these tendencies as represented in the characters created in movies from classics through modern film, focusing on the question of the psychopath's possession of the aptitude to commit undue harm.

Author Biography: Wayne Wilson is Professor of Psychology at Stephen F. Austin State University and author of "Sexuality in the Land of Oz" (University Press of America, 1994).

Booknews

Declaring that movies grant psychopaths much more power and fascination than they deserve, Wilson (psychology, Stephen F. Austin State U., Nacogdoches, Texas) profiles the various types portrayed, beginning with the computer HAL in . He also discusses evil's imperfections, breach of character, mood and circumstance, the power within, justice, and other aspects. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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Editorials

Booknews

Declaring that movies grant psychopaths much more power and fascination than they deserve, Wilson (psychology, Stephen F. Austin State U., Nacogdoches, Texas) profiles the various types portrayed, beginning with the computer HAL in </2001/>. He also discusses evil's imperfections, breach of character, mood and circumstance, the power within, justice, and other aspects. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Book Details

Published
February 1, 1999
Publisher
The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group Inc
Pages
322
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9780761813170

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