Booktalking "Dangerous Women" and "Survive Like a Spy"
Women who kill their partners or children. Women who sexually abuse children, even their own. Nuns in the clergy who sexually abuse boys and girls whose care is entrusted to them. As disparaging and repulsive as this behavior is to most of us, the childhoods of these women often were not great. Female perpetrators often have a history of abuse and a plethora of mental health diagnoses. Sometimes termed the "abuse excuse," it is true that the worst of the worst female criminals have also suffered themselves.
Ever wonder what the daily life of a forensic psychologist is like? The author works on criminal cases, in which either the prosecutor or defense attorney refers a client to him for evaluation. The psychologist evaluates the client through conversation, and by administering a battery of psychological tests. Then, he communicates his findings to the attorney.
If the results are not favorable to the case, the relationship often ends there. However, if his conclusions help the case, the attorney may call him to testify in the trial as an expert witness, if the case is not plea bargained. In the witness chair, the forensic psychologist will likely face a grueling cross-examination after detailing all of his training and experience, and is declared an expert by the judge.
Dangerous Women: Why Mothers, Daughters, and Sisters Become Stalkers, Molesters and Murderers by Larry A. Morris, 2008
I have a degree in forensic psychology; I was fascinated and enlightened by this book.
0-5-25—this refers to the number of feet that are likely between explosive devices that terrorists might detonate. The first bomb is placed at a certain location (0). The second device is placed within a five-foot radius from the first one (5). The third device, if any, is placed 25 feet from the first bomb (25). Survive Like a Spy reveals this and other facts for those unfortunate enough to be in the midst of an unspeakable tragedy.
The safety tips go on and on:
- pay close attention to your surroundings, particularly anything that seems unusual or out-of-place
- record events in your daily life, on both audio and video, for your personal safety
- tell others where you are going, why, and when you are likely to return
- if you believe you are being followed, vary your route and check to see if the person is still on your tail. if so, call the police.
The author even spells out how a spy would handle an attempted kidnapping:
1) create as much of a commotion as possible during the abduction if you are unable to escape (that's because being in someone else's car increases your chances of dying)
2) once it is clear you are caught and isolated from the public, act submissive in order to lure your abductors into a false sense of security
3) pay close attention to detail so you do not miss an opportunity to escape
4) the longer you are held captive, the more likely you are to live
Survive Like a Spy: Real CIA Operatives Reveal How They Stay Safe in a Dangerous World and How You Can Too by Jason Hanson, 2018
Like the book I recently read about the Secret Service, this work is replete with fascinating info about the CIA and personal safety measures that people can take to protect themselves and loved ones.