Table of Contents
HUDSON STREET PRESS
Published by Penguin Group
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
First published by Hudson Street Press, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
First Printing, October 2011
Copyright Mary Ellen OToole, Ph.D., LLC, 2011
All rights reserved
REGISTERED TRADEMARKMARCA REGISTRADA
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
OToole, Mary Ellen.
Dangerous instincts : how gut feelings lead us astray / Mary Ellen OToole and Alisa Bowman. p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN : 978-1-101-54516-4
1. Criminal behavior, Prediction of. 2. Criminal psychology. I. Bowman, Alisa. II. Title.
HV8073.5.O86 2011
364.3--dc22 2011015663
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For everyone who has encountered a dangerous or threatening person and has a story to tell
Acknowledgments
We were thrilled when Caroline Sutton and her team at Hudson Street Press expressed such strong enthusiasm for this book. From the moment we walked in Carolines office for our first meeting, we knew we were about to join forces with the best possible support team any author could have. In particular, were grateful for Meghan Stevensons skilled editing. She helped sharpen the copy, better focus the book, and remove extraneous details that could have bogged down the reading. She not only edited the book; she applied its lessons to her daily life. She couldnt have been any more committed to the cause. Were also thankful that Elizabeth Keenan and Courtney Nobile shepherded us through the publicity process and so expertly helped to get the word out. And we of course were delighted that Hudson Street as a whole provided us with so much support and worked tirelessly to make this book a success.
Michael Harriot, our literary agent at Folio, realized that Mary Ellen should write a book long before Mary Ellen did. He also realized that we would make a great team. Hes an excellent matchmaker. This project truly would never have happened if it were not for his ideas and guidance.
We also thank the many gracious people who so generously allowed us to tell their stories in this book so that others might learn from them.
Mary Ellen
I have many people to thank who, because of their support and belief in me, allowed me to accept this wonderful opportunity to write a book about my passionhuman behavior. Sadly some of these special people are no longer here, but their influence in my life is present every day. They include my mother, Isabelle Murphy OToole, and my aunts and uncles: Ann, Tom, John, and Alice Murphy. They all had a part in raising me. I had my own little village, and I know I am the better for it.
I want to thank my incredible family. Thank you to my sister, Ann OToole Caster, and my brother, Michael Regan OToole. We were parentless for most of our lives, but we remained a strong and supportive family unit for one another. I would not be who I am today if it were not for my siblings and their families: Andy, Tom, Peter, and Emily Caster; and Nancy, Megan, Olivia, Harlowe, and Mary Beth OToole.
Meeting Dr. Robert Hare remains the highlight of my twenty-eight-year FBI career. I tell the story this way: When I first met Dr. Hare at a conference in Seattle, I felt like I was meeting my Dr. Sigmund Freud. I still do. I am so grateful for his professional guidance and help, all the teaching and research he shared with me, and his confidence and trust in me to spread the word about psychopathy and its impact on society. To Dr. Hare and his wonderful wife, Averil, I say thank you so much. I am honored to have you as two of my dearest friends.
For years, I have had the privilege of working side by side with some of the most amazing and talented behaviorists in the worldmen and women who were willing to share their expertise and support me in developing my own: Alice Casey, FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU); Marie Dyson, FBI BAU (retired); Matt Logan, Ph.D., Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Behavioral Sciences Unit (BSU) (retired); Tom Neer, FBI BAU (retired); Anthony Pinizzotto, Ph.D., FBI BSU (retired); Robert Ressler, FBI BSU (retired); Sharon Smith, Ph.D., FBI BSU (retired); Mark Safarik, FBI BAU (retired); Ronald Tunkel, ATF BAU.
My very dear friend Special Agent Ann Todd, of the FBIs National Press Office, taught me so much about how to work with the media and how to improve my communication skills in a venue that can be quite brutal. Her support, guidance, and faith in me helped me to get through some tough times and some very challenging interviews. She was so excited about the prospect of me writing this book and told me it would be a success. That was the encouragement I needed.
