Bad Boys, Bad Men

Whether called black sheep, sociopaths, felons, con men, or misfits, some break all the rules. They shirk responsibilities, abuse drugs and alcohol, take up criminal careers, and lash out at family members. In the worst cases they commit rape, murder, and other violent acts as though they lack a conscience. What makes these people behave the way they do?

Bad Boys, Bad Men examines antisocial personality disorders, or ASPD, the mysterious and misunderstood mental condition that underlies a lifelong penchant for bad behavior. Black interweaves scientific data with stories drawn from his own work as a psychiatrist, current events, new research, and real-world case studies to explore antisocial behavior in men and to chart the history, nature, and treatment of a misunderstood disorder affecting nearly seven million Americans. Citing new evidence from genetics and neuroscience, Black argues that this condition is tied to biological causes, and that some people are simply born bad.

The newly revised edition includes up to date information on the epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiology, natural history, genetics, and treatment of ASPD. Black discusses the antisocial woman as well as narcissistic personality disorder, both of which often intertwine with ASPD. New vignettes demonstrating sociopathic and psychopathic behavior include Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, Robert Durst, and Anna Sorkin.

Examining compelling cases that read like medical detective stories, Black separates the lies these men tell from the facts that their lives reveal. His book not only describes the warning signs that predict which troubled children are more likely to become dangerous adults, but also details the progress toward treatment for ASPD. Written to help patients and family members, Bad Boys, Bad Men is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding antisocial and psychopathic behavior.