The murderer next door
Subtitle: why the mind is designed to kill
By: David M. Buss
Publisher: Penguin Press
Published: 2005
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 278
ISBN-13: 9781594200434
Subjects: Murder; Psychology; Murderers; Psychological aspects
Description: Evolutionary psychologist Buss conducted an unprecedented set of studies investigating the underlying motives and circumstances of murders, from bizarre cases of serial killers to those of the friendly next-door neighbor who one day kills his wife. Though we may like to believe that murderers are pathological misfits and hardened criminals, the vast majority of murders are committed by people who, until the day they kill, seem to be perfectly normal. He puts forth a bold new general theory of homicide, arguing that the human psyche has evolved specialized adaptations whose function is to kill. Taking readers through the surprising twists and turns of the evolutionary logic of murder, he explains exactly when each of us is most at risk, both of being murdered and of becoming a murderer.--From publisher description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [265]-272) and index.
Table of contents: title: 1. The murdering mind; title: 2. The evolution of killing; title: 3. The dangerous game of mating; title: 4. When love kills; title: 5. Sexual predators; title: 6. Mate poachers; title: 7. Blood and water; title: 8. Status and reputation; title: 9. The killers among us.