Prisoners of Hate: The Cognitive Basis of Anger, Hatred and Violence

"Prisoners of Hate offers a profound analysis of a most pressing human challenge: the causes--and prevention--of hatred. Of the many important books Aaron Beck has written, this may be his greatest gift to humanity." --Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence World-renowned psychiatrist Dr. Aaron T. Beck has always been at the forefront of cognitive therapy research, his approach being the most rapidly growing psychotherapy today. In his most important work to date, the widely hailed father of cognitive therapy presents a revolutionary look at destructive behavior--from domestic abuse to genocide to war--and provides a solid framework for remedying these crucial problems. In this book, Dr. Beck: Illustrates the specific psychological aberrations underlying anger, interpersonal hostility, ethnic conflict, genocide, and war; Clarifies why perpetrators of evil deeds are motivated by a belief that they are doing good; Explains how the offenders are locked into distorted belief systems that control their behavior and shows how the same distortions in thinking occur in a rampaging mob as in an enraged spouse; Provides a blueprint for correcting warped thinking and belief systems and, consequently, undercutting various forms of hostility; and Discusses how the individual and society as a whole might use the tools of psychotherapy to block the psychological pathways to war, genocide, rape, and murder.

About the Author :
Aaron T. Beck, M.D., widely known as the father of cognitive therapy, was University Professor Emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and president of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research. He graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Brown University, and went on to attend Yale Medical School. He received more than 18 major professional awards from associations such as the National Institute of Mental Health, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Psychopathological Association.

Review :
"Beck's broad scope; valuable summaries on prejudice, altruism, and political psychology; and optimistic, humane, and rational treatment of a vital subject recommend this for lay and professional readers." - Library Journal "A breathtaking experience. Beck's explanations are so clear, obvious and practical that you feel a surge of hope. Prisoners of Hate is a clear review of the world's most important psychological theory, and is virtually a workbook on how to prevent violence. . . . A book that does so many important things so well can only be called a masterpiece." - Philadelphia Inquirer "A brilliant book, deeply needed in today's world. Dr. Beck brings to bear both immense knowledge and creative intelligence to synthesize this amazingly practical, yet never too simple book of advice and insight." - Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., author of Worry and Connect "A provocative and most timely report." - Kirkus Reviews "Beck draws on a lifetime of scientific research and therapeutic experience. . . . He has devoted his career to showing how the rational side of human nature can be trained to overcome the merciless legacy of irrelevant evolutionary imperatives and the tragic result of individual traumas. By reducing conflict arising, not from clashes of interest, but mistaken judgments and unprocessed impulses, this book will help both laymen and professionals put human rationality to its most important use." - Ian S. Lustick, Professor of Political Science, University of Pennsylvania "In this important book, one of America's most distinguished psychiatrists draws on his vast clinical experience, personal wisdom, and scholarly knowledge to offer a fascinating account of the dark side of the human psyche." - Roy F. Baumeister, author of Evil: Inside Human Violence and Cruelty "Prisoners of Hate offers a profound analysis of a most pressing human challenge: the causes--and prevention--of hatred. Of the many important books Aaron Beck has written, this may be his greatest gift to humanity." - Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence "The leading authority on depression here turns his clinical radar on the cognitive sources of anger and hostility. As Dr. Beck demonstrates, hate and violence bring pain not only to the victims but also to the perpetrators. Hostility and rage can become habitual and, like other bad habits, these can be broken. This fine book can help." - David T. Lykken, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Psychology, University of Minnesota "This magnificent synthesis crowns a lifetime of achievement in cognitive behavior therapy. The same formulations that account for violence in the individual are found to apply also to collective violence. During the Cold War the West had a convenient distant enemy; now that NATO dominates the world, close neighbors are turning on one another. This is a timely book, closely argued and vividly illustrated with telling examples." - Sir David Goldberg, professor, Institute of Psychiatry (London) "This valuable book shows that even the most extreme forms of hate and violence arise from diminishing and dehumanizing other people, from seeing them as enemies--even if they are our wives and husbands. Very importantly, it also offers remedies--ways to alter our thinking so that we can live more loving lives." - Ervin Staub, Ph.D., author of The Roots of Evil