Contains revealing studies of some of the most exotic psychological deviations ever published in professional literature. Uses plain English to describe the major characteristics of each unique disorder, complete with illustrative case reports and a discussion of available therapies.
Isn’t it fun how you find good books on unsuspecting days when you’ve just gone for a little solo drive to the seaside? I picked this up at my favourite secondhand bookshop, in the psychology and philosophy section which I didn’t know existed until last week. It’s from 1995, so a lot of the language is outdated and I’m sure there’s been plenty more research done on most of the topics since its publication, but it sometimes feels like a real treat to find a copy of an out of print book you didn’t know you wanted.
Tangent over, this was so interesting! I particularly enjoyed the chapters on necrophilia (gross as it was), Capgras delusion (which had me in inadvertent hysterics) and the MSP chapter - which predated most of Gypsy Rose’s ordeal.
The writing was academic but in a way that it was still fun to read, and the authors took on a very 90s way of being sympathetic to patients. It took me right back to A-level psychology, although Freud’s theories are still just as utterly bizarre as ever.
A fantastic read on some of the more bizzare behaviors that affect small parts of the population. Really shed light on the conditions I was aware of but also on some new ones I have never heard of before. The dissection of Stockholm Syndrome was what got me interested in the first place.
Eccentric and Bizarre Behaviors is more than a sensationalized catalogue of neuroses. Louis Franzini describes a series of mental conditions, ranging from the strange and unusual to the darkly disturbing. The treatment of the subject matter is always, however, compassionate. The author seeks to shed light on these poorly understood conditions, avoiding judgment for those afflicted and avoiding the use of labels. Conditions are thoroughly described and analyzed, and most importantly, theories on the causes and treatment of such conditions are an integral part of each chapter. Incredibly informative and fascinating, Eccentric and Bizarre Behaviors promotes understanding and awareness of some of the most marginalized people in human society.
A good and often funny read on many of the vagaries of human behavior -- especially the sexual stuff. The authors thumbnail the behavioral, psychoanalytic, neurobiological and sometimes cultural underpinnings of ach cluster of symptoms. I disagree with the statement on the jacket blurb to the effect that the authors have compassion for the subjects of this book -- they make light of virtually every case and at times come across as pretty snide. Overall, though, I found it a very worthwhile read.
This book was easy to read. I plowed through it in one day. An excellent read for someone who wants to get to know the some pretty eccentric behaviors. From real cases of necrophilia, to the gifted savants,to the extreme paranoid, this book touches touches a wide range of psychological disorders. Even though I was familiar with a lot of these disorders I still found the book extremely interesting and very well researched.
Fast read of the history and case-studies of a few rare mental maladies. Very easy to read unlike some other psychology books. I was already familiar with some of the topics mentioned like Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy and Delusional Misidentification Disorder. The authors didn't go into anything kinkier than frotteurs and a-e-a, but it was interesting research for off-beat character traits.
A fascinating read, but at times rather disturbing. I finished it rather quickly, but found myself bored for long portions of chapters at various times. All in all, an interesting introduction to the topics covered, but not the best thing I've read so far.