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High Risk: Children Without A Conscience
IS YOUR CHILD AT HIGH RISK?
Who are these children without a conscience? They are children who cannot trust, children who cannot love, children who will not be loved. They grow up to be charmers, con artists, amoral entrepreneurs, thieves, drug users, pathological liars, and worst of psychopathic killers . . . and they are often the product of even the best-intentioned families.
For every parent of a “difficult” child, working parents, single parents, and adoptive parents, here is a book that addresses one of our society’s greatest problems. High Risk offers sobering case histories an invaluable suggestions for raising healthy children and protecting ourselves from the “trust bandits” who would steal our love, our money—our very lives. In High Risk you will learn how
• Recognize character-disturbed children and adults
• Prevent the development of antisocial behavior
• Choose healthy child-care and school environments
• Find the best professional help if your child is at risk
• Minimize the trauma of adoption and foster care
• Protect yourself from exploitative relationships in both your business and personal life
• And much more.
Foreword by Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder
Who are these children without a conscience? They are children who cannot trust, children who cannot love, children who will not be loved. They grow up to be charmers, con artists, amoral entrepreneurs, thieves, drug users, pathological liars, and worst of psychopathic killers . . . and they are often the product of even the best-intentioned families.
For every parent of a “difficult” child, working parents, single parents, and adoptive parents, here is a book that addresses one of our society’s greatest problems. High Risk offers sobering case histories an invaluable suggestions for raising healthy children and protecting ourselves from the “trust bandits” who would steal our love, our money—our very lives. In High Risk you will learn how
• Recognize character-disturbed children and adults
• Prevent the development of antisocial behavior
• Choose healthy child-care and school environments
• Find the best professional help if your child is at risk
• Minimize the trauma of adoption and foster care
• Protect yourself from exploitative relationships in both your business and personal life
• And much more.
Foreword by Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
15 people are currently reading
342 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 6, 2015
This book was loaned to me by my clinical supervisor, with a caveat about the age of the material and the fact that it was written for a general rather than professional audience.
Much of the information in this book is dated but the larger problem is that it is so drenched in hyperbole that it is hard to take seriously. The title for section one: America: a breeding ground for psychopaths?" sets the FOX-newsish tone of the information provided about the frequency of "character disordered" children in our society. From there, we wander through possible causes for the 'dramatic increase' in unattached and anti-social children and the authors walk a fine line between blaming working mothers' use of daycare and more appropriate criticism of government and labor policies that impede infant bonding.
As with any source that suggests we have more anti-social youth today than at any time in the past, I wish I had the opportunity to ask the authors what kinds of pro-social and well-attached children grew up to plan and carry out genocides, run press gangs, organize lynchings, etc., in the golden days of yore.
As for recommended treatments, I hope no reader will agree to or participate in "rage reduction therapy" or "holding therapy" or "modified holding therapy" without doing lots of research into whether these are evidence-based practices being provided by trained and licensed mental health professionals.
In short, anyone looking for up to date information about conduct-disordered or attachment-disordered youth should seek out newer work on evidence-based treatments for those disorders.
One valuable section of the book is the authors' descriptions in section 5, of behaviors that indicate attachment problems in children and in parents. These are correct and concise, and provide a summary that would be useful for new clinicians working with families to keep in mind.
Much of the information in this book is dated but the larger problem is that it is so drenched in hyperbole that it is hard to take seriously. The title for section one: America: a breeding ground for psychopaths?" sets the FOX-newsish tone of the information provided about the frequency of "character disordered" children in our society. From there, we wander through possible causes for the 'dramatic increase' in unattached and anti-social children and the authors walk a fine line between blaming working mothers' use of daycare and more appropriate criticism of government and labor policies that impede infant bonding.
As with any source that suggests we have more anti-social youth today than at any time in the past, I wish I had the opportunity to ask the authors what kinds of pro-social and well-attached children grew up to plan and carry out genocides, run press gangs, organize lynchings, etc., in the golden days of yore.
As for recommended treatments, I hope no reader will agree to or participate in "rage reduction therapy" or "holding therapy" or "modified holding therapy" without doing lots of research into whether these are evidence-based practices being provided by trained and licensed mental health professionals.
In short, anyone looking for up to date information about conduct-disordered or attachment-disordered youth should seek out newer work on evidence-based treatments for those disorders.
One valuable section of the book is the authors' descriptions in section 5, of behaviors that indicate attachment problems in children and in parents. These are correct and concise, and provide a summary that would be useful for new clinicians working with families to keep in mind.
February 21, 2013
I had to read this for my Human Development class. While it was written some years ago, the content is still very relevant. It's scary to think that it's actually worse in many ways. Since this book was written, we've had Columbine, Sandy Hook, etc., so many cases of the psychopathic mindset. It makes you think what are we doing wrong in this country and in this age? I have to admit if you read this book you will probably find yourself diagnosing people! You'll wonder, are they unattached, are these traits I'm seeing xy and z...anyway it's a good book for anyone not just those studying psychology or fields working with children. I wish I had this sort of information given to me when I was a young mom and wish doctors would educate patients not just about prenatal physical health but mental health and the importance of bonding and attachment breaks.
March 13, 2016
I should have known I was in trouble when they couldn't even manage to get subject and verb to agree in the title of this book. There was nothing here but a lot of hand-wringing about what the world is coming to. The contents are anecdotal and the author makes no real attempt to expand on what the anecdotes might mean. Are these stories business as usual, typical things you find on the normal spectrum of child behavior? Do they represent something new and dangerous? The author says they are part of a frightening trend but does not support his thesis in any way. There was no serious attempt to get to the bottom of anything, and no meaningful suggestions to straighten things out.
September 7, 2016
Great insight to identify a psychopath.
This book turned out to be quite interesting as it does not only talk about psychopathic children but infamous serial killers as well (Ted Bundy) and it digs deep into the childhoods of the serial murderers to identify the trigger and cause of it. It also provides helpful tools and checklist for caregivers/adopters/parents to nurture a child and help him/her develop into a well-sounding child with proper attachment and solid foundation growth.
Insightful read.
This book turned out to be quite interesting as it does not only talk about psychopathic children but infamous serial killers as well (Ted Bundy) and it digs deep into the childhoods of the serial murderers to identify the trigger and cause of it. It also provides helpful tools and checklist for caregivers/adopters/parents to nurture a child and help him/her develop into a well-sounding child with proper attachment and solid foundation growth.
Insightful read.
February 5, 2016
I was reminded of the importance of this book (read over 10 years ago) while watching the congressional hearings with Martin Shkreli. The book is timeless and serves as a great instructor on how to gauge the moral codes of those around us - not just children. For those of us who teach children, the book can guide us in tactics to deal with, though not rectify, behaviors that are far below social norms.
May 2, 2025
This book was often unapologetically sensationalistic (which was kind of refreshing in a weird way) and would flip-flop between calm academic objectivity and attention grabbing melodrama. It had a lot of competing identities and the authors couldn't decide if it should be a bestseller, a political message, or an academic text. When it did provide factual information it should be kept in mind that older books like this must be taken worth a grain of salt since much more research has come out since their publication. However, with all the controversy surrounding the latest DSM there's something to be said for incorporating different sources into your pool of knowledge and evaluating them based on merit. There's certainly a lot of garbage in this book (the word "evil" gets thrown around a lot) but there's also quite a bit of reasonable information and sound advice as well. While I think the authors overplay the role of attachment they nonetheless highlight its importance in the development of various mental health conditions. At rare moments, the horrifying aspects of violence and abuse were related with such simplicity that I had to put the book down for a few minutes to digest what I had just read. Most of the time, however, the book had a distinctively tawdry tone which lent a dubious air to the claims of the authors. There were also a lot of typos. The whole thing felt rushed, uneven, and sloppy. Despite all this I would still say it's worth reading today as long as you temper it with other more appropriate sources on the topic. Even with all its problems there is a quality of earnestness to this work and for all of its sensationalism I nonetheless detected an underlying thread of honesty that could only come from genuine experience.
March 26, 2025
3 stars for being hilariously bizarre
July 23, 2010
This book is chiefly about identifying the causes of anti social personality disorder, which can start in infancy, and preventing this in younger children, treating it in older children and identifying adults with the disorder for whom there currently is no cure. On the surface, this book appears to just be for parents who are concerned that their children don't grow up with a disturbed character. But this book could be useful to any reader and not just those who deal with or interact with children. Obviously, parents, whether they are natural, adoptive or foster, can gain much insight from this book. People who provide services to children and parents would also benefit. But, if someone is planning to get married, take a business partner, or trust anyone with any type of arrangement, it would be helpful to learn to identify a person with an antisocial personality disorder or something similar. In fact if everyone who cared about the future of humanity understood some of the information in this book, and it influenced our values, laws, and social priorities, there might be fewer character disturbed adults in our society.
August 21, 2009
I read this book long ago but it is still with me. This book is more frightening than even the best of Stephen King because it is real and it is relevant to everyone's life. The thin line we walk in raising children is put in front of your face by this author. Bonds that are broken for whatever reason between primary care givers and very young children have consequences no one can even imagine.
This is how powerful this book is, how detailed in research, and how true to life: I gave my copy to my best friend when she was considering adoption. She subsequently discarded the idea of adoption, got a test tube baby, delivered and carried her, then breastfed her for 4 years. When I asked how she was so gifted with maternal passion, she answered me by saying, "It was that book you gave me to read."
This is a must read for everyone who is considering starting a family, anyone who is looking for a lifetime partner and is just learning his or her past, anyone who is a teacher, counselor, or prison warden.
This is a powerful read.
This is how powerful this book is, how detailed in research, and how true to life: I gave my copy to my best friend when she was considering adoption. She subsequently discarded the idea of adoption, got a test tube baby, delivered and carried her, then breastfed her for 4 years. When I asked how she was so gifted with maternal passion, she answered me by saying, "It was that book you gave me to read."
This is a must read for everyone who is considering starting a family, anyone who is looking for a lifetime partner and is just learning his or her past, anyone who is a teacher, counselor, or prison warden.
This is a powerful read.
September 2, 2014
Extremely misinformed and out of date. does not have current information concerning psychopathy and sociopathy,not surprising considering its date of publication. it may provide a solid background for continued research, but it must not be the basis for all thoughts on psychopathy.
October 22, 2008
Informative, but not written in a reader-friendly style.
January 6, 2009
An excellent book about kid without a conscience. If you are going to work with problem children you need to read this book.
April 28, 2010
Wow..we really aren't helping ourselves and our kids.
August 11, 2010
It is insane to think of how many people there are out there that are less severe or (even scarer )--- "better" to the point they haven't been caught yet.
January 24, 2011
This was one of the first books concerning the importance of bonding with a child. It was published in 1987 and contains some bone-chilling facts.
Read
August 13, 2011Explains where psychopaths come from.
December 7, 2013
Really lays it all out in terms of causes and treatments. For any trained or experienced clinician, it helps develop a heuristic sensibility about sociopaths.
May 3, 2016
Some of the info is outdated but still interesting look on "unattached children".
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews