Books in the SpringerBriefs in Behavioral Criminology series

This book retrospectively analyzes the notorious 1924 case of Leopold and Loeb, in which two college students murder a young boy just to prove they could do it. Not just of historical interest, this volume serves as a case study for students and professionals alike, and a review of procedures used in such difficult cases.

Findings clarify or replace popularly held ideas about the psychology of partners of child molesters, and of the abusers themselves, in key areas such as childhood experience of sexual abuse and the construction of elaborate fictions to cover the abuse.

Collectively, the cases involve 213 biological mothers who killed 265 children, and are comprised of neonaticide, infanticide, and filicide cases.

This book clearly explains the circumstances that prevent proper testing including batteries that are confusing or frustrating to the person being tested or those that cause fatigue thus interfering with an appropriate picture of cognitive, motor and sensory skills.