The Criminal Mind
: Why Society Keeps Getting It Wrong
Here I start a new 19 part series based on the book ‘Inside the Criminal Mind by Staton E. Samenow.
For decades, the intellectual elite and well-meaning liberals have spun the same tired yarn: crime is a symptom, a consequence of societal failings, a product of poverty, abuse, or a rough postcode. Billions of pounds, euros, and dollars have been funnelled into programmes designed to fix these "root causes," yet the revolving door of the criminal justice system grinds on. Perhaps it's time to admit that the emperor has no clothes. The unwavering focus on why people commit crimes has not only been a colossal failure but has actively enabled the very behaviour it seeks to eradicate.
The hard truth, unearthed by men like Dr. Stanton Samenow and Dr. Samuel Yochelson, and solidified through thousands of hours spent in the grimiest corners of the criminal psyche, is this: the search for external "causes" is a fool's errand. It’s a convenient fiction, a comfortable excuse for those unwilling to stare into the abyss of individual responsibility.
The Illusion of Circumstance
Consider the prevailing narrative:
Poverty and Deprivation: Marcus Aurelius, nearly two millennia ago, declared, "Poverty is the mother of crime." A tidy aphorism, perhaps, but demonstrably false. The 2008 recession, a period of widespread economic hardship, saw a sharp decline in homicides and robberies. Correlation, as any half-decent logician knows, is not causation. Most people living in poverty are not criminals. And conversely, as any hardened detective will tell you, plenty of criminals are wealthy, driven by a perverse sense of entitlement rather than desperation.
Bad Parenting & Environment: Sure, a rough upbringing can shape a person. But it doesn't force them to pick up a knife or cook the books. Samenow's research found countless criminals who emerged from stable, even privileged, backgrounds, equipped with every "protective factor" imaginable. Just as many from the bleakest circumstances chose lives of purpose and decency. The path chosen is precisely that: a choice.
Media and Modernity: Every new generation finds a fresh scapegoat. Violent films, video games, sugary drinks, social media – the list of 'new' causes is endless. Yet, millions consume this media, play these games, scroll these feeds, and don't turn into predators. The difference isn't the input; it’s the internal landscape, the "psychological makeup of the individuals," as Samenow bluntly puts it. Cyberbullying isn't a new phenomenon; it's the same old bullying wearing a new, digital mask.
The Myth of the "Shattered" Mind
The obsession with finding external "causes" has bred a cottage industry of excuses. When caught, the criminal often presents as a victim, a product of their circumstances. Mental health professionals, sometimes blinded by diagnostic criteria and a desire to help, can inadvertently fuel this narrative. Insanity pleas, often portrayed as a sign of a truly broken mind, are, in reality, rare and frequently a calculated dodge to avoid accountability.
The concept of "out of character" crime is another dangerous delusion. No one "snaps." The seeds of destructive behaviour are sown and cultivated long before the violent outburst or the audacious fraud. The criminal personality is formed over time, a series of deliberate choices, not a sudden, unpredictable anomaly. Even terrorists, often framed as ideological zealots, frequently exhibit pre-existing criminal traits, merely adopting a cause to legitimise their predatory instincts.
The Hard Truth: Character, Not Circumstance
Samenow's seminal work, based on the painstaking deconstruction of the criminal mind, pivots on a crucial distinction: it's not why they do it, but how they think. The criminal mind operates on a specific, self-serving logic, honed for manipulation, control, and personal gratification.
Self-Serving Rationalisations: Criminals are masters of justification. Give them an excuse, psychological or societal, and they'll wield it like a shield. As one offender famously told Samenow: "Doctor, if I didn't have enough excuses for crime before psychiatry, I now have more than enough after all these years."
Anger as a Tool: Anger isn't a passive emotion; it's a weapon. It’s a festering sore within them, personalising every slight, twisting routine annoyances into perceived threats. Anyone standing in their way becomes a legitimate target.
The "Good Person" Façade: This is perhaps the most insidious aspect. Criminals present a curated version of themselves, a plausible, often charming, exterior designed to deflect suspicion and maintain control. This façade is a constant impediment to genuine change, easily mistaken for sincerity by the unprepared.
A Brutal Reality, A Clearer Path
The correctional officers, the street detectives, the frontline social workers – they know this reality. They stare into the eyes of these individuals every day, grappling with minds honed for chaos. Their experience, often dismissed by academic theorists, resonates profoundly with Samenow's findings.
So, where does this leave us? Still throwing billions at "anger management" programmes that merely legitimise rage? Still investing in therapies that barely scratch the surface of a deeply ingrained personality?
The solution, Samenow argues, lies not in chasing phantoms but in confronting the cold, hard fact of individual agency. Behaviour flows from thought. To change the man, you must change the way he thinks. It's a brutal, unforgiving road, demanding a complete overhaul of one's internal landscape. It means shedding the excuses, dismantling the self-serving rationalisations, and facing one's actions without the convenient shield of circumstance.
The vast majority of individuals currently behind bars will one day walk free. If society continues to misunderstand the nature of criminality, if it persists in coddling the criminal and absolving him of responsibility, then we are simply setting the stage for future victims. Disinformation breeds disaster. It's time to stop looking outside and finally look within. That's the only way to truly protect society and, just possibly, offer a genuine chance at change for the few who are truly willing to take it. Otherwise, it’s just more tax money down the drain, and more innocent lives shattered.
Citations:
Samenow, S. E. (2014). Inside the Criminal Mind. Crown Forum. (This is the primary source referenced throughout the article for Samenow and Yochelson's work and theories.)
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