Review: Spotting A Mental Health Risk Explained Clearly
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 28, 2013
Behavioral sciences are used by millions of people on a daily basis, but not everyone is an expert like Dr. L. Benton.As a teacher in inner-city schools working on the frontline, I depended upon judgements based on behavioral sciences. My gut reactions supported by years of experience, evaluating potentially problematic people could have been impressively fortified if I had had access to the rigorous understanding elaborated by Dr. Benton.Most people have had that feeling in a shopping mall. You know, you tell your kids to come closer. That is behavioral science protecting you and your family. Dr. Benton uses his knowledge to quantify that gut-reaction, decision-making process. To understand what is going on behind a protective decision takes years of study. Read this accessible book because you want to become more aware.Dr. Benton laid out his impressive experience in the opening of the book. He then moved on to suggest that it is our responsibility to protect ourselves. Later, I specially enjoyed the author's use of historical examples going back to the Greeks. Dr. Benton's skill is in taking the wealth of knowledge he possesses and breaking it down into consumable bites-a true sign of ability.Dr. Benton's book contains easily accessible gems in a compact format. Take the time to gain important knowledge about your decision-making process concerning how to protect yourself from those out there who are dangerous.This book makes me think of an old friend, God rest his soul. On Iwo Jima, he woke one night and woke his buddies. He said: "We have to move. Something is wrong here." Five of his buddies came with him. They survived. The other five stayed in the same place. The Japanese soldiers came and slit the throats of the five who remained. Dr. Benton's book gives you a framework to understand just what my old friend did on Iwo Jima. He used behavioral sciences to recognize danger and act.Crime and Mental Health Advice in Dr. Benton's book, provides a clear framework for understanding your natural reactions. These reactions go deep. They are fight or flight decisions. Dr. Benton's book does not pretend to be an exhaustive study. It would take more than a 1000 pages to explain and support arguments about criminality. Rather, Crime and Mental Health Judgement Not Included is a succinct distillation of years of study made accessible to anyone who wants to learn how to trust their natural reactions.