Violence as secular evil forensic evaluation and treatment of violent offenders from the viewpoint of existential depth psychology

Abstract

Violence is the pre-eminent evil of our postmodern era. Although the causes of destructive violence in our society are complex, the troublesome human emotions of anger and rage play a central role in the genesis of violent behavior and psychopathology in general. This chapter discusses the forensic evaluation and psychotherapeutic treatment of violent offenders from the perspective of existential depth psychology-a psychodynamic fusion of Freudian, Jungian, and existential theory-focusing on the overlooked links between repressed rage or anger, pathological narcissism, antisocial personality, and violent behavior. This chapter stresses the importance of accurately evaluating and diagnosing potentially dangerous individuals, encourages the clinical prognostication of violence, and elucidates the pragmatic pertinence of existential depth psychology in effectively evaluating and treating pathologically angry or aggressive patients. © 2006 Humana Press Inc.